Srinagar, July 22 (ANI): A senior army commander on Friday promised a 'dispassionate' probe into a recent rape case allegedly involving two army personnel.
Lieutenant General S.A Hasnain, General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps in India's Kashmir Valley, said: "If there is any truth in this incident, then it is a criminal act against which the strictest action must be taken. Strict action must be taken if the allegations are proved true. I clarify that this is a criminal act."
He was reacting to the reported abduction and rape of a woman named Rukiya Bano.
She alleged that two personnel of the Indian Army had abducted and subsequently raped her on July 19.
Bano, a resident of the Kulgam district of south Kashmir, had also claimed that the guilty offenders had forcefully confined her in a hut for over two days, where she was repeatedly raped.
Lt. Gen. Hasnain assured that the army would take strict action against the perpetrators if the allegations made by Bano were true.
Earlier in the day, local police registered a complaint and relevant First Information Report (FIR) on the basis of Bano's allegations.
Bano (30) had claimed in her complaint that at the time of her abduction, the perpetrators were wearing 'uniforms' and also had radio sets with them.
"We are conducting a full investigation and fully cooperating with the police and all other state departments. But I wish to clarify something, in the wake of the prevailing situation in Kashmir which all of you are aware of. It is that the uniform, specially the combat uniform, is also worn by terrorists," said Lt. Gen. Hasnain.
Hinting at the involvement of certain 'inimical elements' behind the incident, he urged the masses to trust the Indian Army in its investigation.
"Obviously, there are inimical elements behind this, who are trying to create a situation for the state government, police and security forces, which is going to be negative. That is why, I wish to appeal to the media and the people of Kashmir to trust us. We will do a dispassionate investigation into this and ensure that if there is any truth at all behind the allegations, we will undertake string action against the guilty offenders," said Lt. Gen. Hasnain. (ANI)
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