Srinagar, July 25: Indian trooper of 2 Rashtriya Rifle (RR) attempted to molest a 9th standard school girl in Wanigam in Pattan area of Baramulla district. 18 year old Nusrat Akhtar, daughter of Ghulam Nabi Yatoo, a resident of Yetipora Pattan, was on way to her Wanigam High School when the trooper of company headquarters of 2 RR located at Yetipora camp attempted to molest her. However, a truck driver identified as Nazir Ahmad of Wanigam came to her rescue and the girl fled from the spot. The residents of Wanigam Pattan told media men that the army camp has become a nuisance for the residents.
The driver was taken inside the bunker by troopers and was beaten to pulp. He was released only after the military men took assurance from him that he won’t disclose the happening to anybody, reports said. However, the girl while reaching a safe place disclosed that that the army trooper attempted to molest her.
Scores of people took to streets in protest in Hyderbaig area of Pattan in Baramulla district on Monday after a soldier y tried to molest a girl student. The accused soldier has been arrested.
The incident occurred at around 9:30 am when the girl was on way to school. According to reports, a soldier intercepted and tried to molest a class 9 girl student of government high school Wanigam Payeen, a resident of Yattipora Pattan, when she was on way to her school through an army camp.
On the complaint of the girl and the disclosure of her father, a case under FIR No 61/2011 u/s 341, 354 RPC has been registered at Police Station Kreeri, police, Police officials told media men.
The accused, an army trooper of 2RR, presently undergoing Battle Field Nursing Assistant Course at 319-Field Hospital Wanigam, has been arrested and is under police custody, he said.
“When I was passing through the camp, the soldier caught hold of me and tried to molest me. He tried to drag me and in doing so I fell down. When I raised alarm some passerby saved me from the clutches of the soldier,” the girl told news men. Soon after the incident, scores of people including students blocked the highway at Hyderbaig Pattan. The protesters were baton charged by police and army. Later the army took control of the situation.
Eyewitnesses had told media men a girl student of Yatipora village in the district was on way to her school when an Army man intercepted her near Hyderbeg and tried to molest her. The girl, eyewitnesses said raised an alarm before escaping from the clutches of the trooper. Hundreds of men, women and children shouting “We want freedom,” “ Go India Go Back,” assembled on the Srinagar- Baramulla highway and demanded stern action against the trooper.
The trooper has been identified as Sepoy Deshmukh and has been arrested by police and lodged in police station Pattan. An FIR vide no. 61/2011 under section 341, 354 RPC stands registered against the arrested soldier. “We have arrested a soldier and investigation is on. I assure if soldier is found guilty he will not be spared and a stern action will be taken against him,” said Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Bhat.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Dr Haseeb Mughal told media men that soldier was arrested after the girl student recorded her statement. The statement of the girl was also recorded in the Pattan court.
A police spokesman said the police took custody of the accused Sepoy on the spot. “He is a Sepoy of 2 Rashtriya Rifles and presently undergoing Battle Field Nursing Assistant Course at 319-Field Hospital Wanigam, Pattan.
The residents of Wanigam Pattan told media men that the army camp has become a nuisance for the residents. They said a huge population of Wanigam and scores of other villages have to pass through this camp to reach their destinations and after 8 pm the gates of the camp are closed, giving tough time to the residents of the area. “The gates of the camp are closed after 8 pm and people are not allowed to move. We request the authorities that the camp should be shifted to some other place so that the residents are allowed to move freely,” said Ali Muhammad of Wanigam.
There was protest by the locals at Wanigam and even at Hyderbaig, Pattan. Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Bashir Ahmed Bhat and District SP Baramulla visited the spot and Wanigam village and talked to the people and assured them of strict legal action against the culprit,” he said.
“The investigation has been taken up and statement of girl and few other witnesses have been recorded. The trooper has been legally arrested and is under police custody. The girl was taken to Judicial Magistrate (Sub-Judge) Pattan and her statement under section 164 CrPC was recorded.