(Trigger Warning: Description of sexual assault)
A female officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has accused a Wing Commander, posted at the Air Force Station in Srinagar, of sexually assaulting her.
The female officer claimed that the accused was being shielded by his superiors, prompting her to lodge a formal complaint with the police. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered an FIR under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at a police station in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The section deals with rape. A senior officer from the J&K Police has been assigned to investigate the sensitive case.
In her complaint, a copy of which is available with The Quint, the survivor alleged that the incident took place during a New Year's Eve party on December 31, 2023, at the No. 2 Officers' Mess, Air Force Station, Srinagar.
What Happened on 31 December?
According to the complaint, after the party, the Wing Commander asked her whether she had received a gift. When she responded that she had not, he asked her to come to his room, where the gifts were kept. “I went with him to his room. After showing me the room, I asked where his wife and children were. He replied that they were in separate accommodation. He then asked me to take a gift. As I turned to leave after picking up the gift, I saw him standing behind me with his penis exposed,” she alleged.
The officer further stated that the Wing Commander forced her to perform oral sex and pressed her breasts. “I repeatedly asked him to stop and resisted in every way possible. Eventually, I pushed him away and ran out. He told me he would meet me again on Friday when his family left,” she said.
The survivor also mentioned that it took her time to fully register what had happened.
'Accused Was Made to Sit With Me During Investigation'
In her complaint, the female officer revealed that she shared this with two female colleagues, who advised her to file a formal complaint. However, she encountered challenges even in submitting the complaint to the Air Officer Commanding (AOC).
“A Colonel was assigned to investigate the incident, and the Wing Commander was made to sit with me during the investigation. My statement and examination were noted down. When I objected to his presence, which was in violation of Section 788(a) of the Regulations for the Air Force, the investigation was closed to cover up the administration's mistakes,” she stated.
The officer then submitted a fresh application to the internal committee of 1 Wing. It took two months for the station to assemble the internal committee, which finally convened on 2 April. “The bias of the station authorities in aiding the sexual offender was heartbreaking. The medical examination was not conducted until I insisted multiple times, and even then, it was done on the last day of the investigation,” she claimed in the complaint.
The survivor also accused the authorities of helping the accused by preventing witnesses from giving testimony. “I had pleaded with the internal committee to use their authority to summon a witness, but the witness was made to leave the camp before giving a statement,” she alleged.
In her presentation to the internal committee, the survivor raised objections about the inadequacy of the medical examination. However, she said the committee was in a rush to close the inquiry, and her objections were ignored. She also claimed she was subjected to daily harassment by the authorities.
“My personal communications are constantly being monitored unofficially. The ongoing harassment has severely affected my mental health, and I am living in constant fear,” she added.
The survivor's lawyer, retired Colonel Amit Kumar, declined to share further details about the case. He however said the survivor had endured significant harassment over the months and was compelled to report the matter to the police. “We hope for a fair investigation and that the culprit is brought to justice,” he stated.
Public Relations Officer of the IAF, Jaideep Singh, refused to comment and instead asked to talk to officers at the Srinagar Air Force Station. However, despite repeated attempts, IAF officers in Srinagar could not be reached for comments. We are also trying to contact the accused for his version. Once their version is available, the story will be updated accordingly.
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