|| RAO FERMAN
The Kunan-Poshpora incident occurred on intervening night of February 23/24,1991, S aturday, w hen units of the Indian army belonging to 4th R ajputana R ifles of 6 8th brigade launched a search and interrogation operation in the twin villages of Kunan & Poshpora, located in North Kashmir’s remote Kupwara District. At least 53 women were gang raped by soldiers that night. However, Human Rights organisations including Human Rights Watch have reported that the number of raped women could be as high as 100, but other sources put the number around 23. Although the Indian government′s investigations into the incident [ inaccurately] rejected the allegations as “Baseless,” nonetheless, international human rights organisations have expressed serious Doubts about the integrity of these investigations and the manner in which they were conducted, stating that the Indian government launched a “campaign to acquit the army of Charges of human rights violations and discredit those who brought the charges.
“On March 18, Monday, the then divisional commissioner Wajahat Habibullah visited the V illage, a nd fi led a c onfidential report, parts of which were later released to the Public. He concluded: “While the veracity of the complaint is highly doubtful, it still needs to be determined why such complaint was made at all. The people of the village are simple folk and by the Army’s own admission have been generally helpful and even careful of security of the Army’s officers… Unlike Brig. Sharma I found many of the village women genuinely angry … It is recommended that the level of investigation be upgraded to that of a gazetted police officer.”
Asia Watch, in its 1991 report, stated: “The alacrity with which military and government authorities in Kashmir discredited the allegations of rape and their failure to follow through with procedures that would provide critical evidence for any prosecution – in particular prompt medical examinations of the alleged rape victims — raise serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation…Given evidence of a possible cover-up, both the official and the Press Council investigation fall far short of the measures necessary to establish the facts in the incident and determine culpability.
“The Press Council’s dismissal of all the Kunan Poshpora allegation, and the manner in which it carried out its investigation was widely criticized. Human Rights Watch wrote: While the results of the examinations by themselves could not prove the charges of rape, they raised serious questions about the army’s actions in Kunan- Poshpora. Under the circumstances, the committee’s eagerness to dismiss any evidence that might contradict the government’s version of events is deeply disturbing.
In the end, the committee has revealed itself to be far more concerned about countering domestic and international criticism than about uncovering the truth. Former DG, Border Security Force (BSF), E.M Rammohan, on 18th June 2013, Monday, s aid t hat 4 th R ajputana Rifles of 68th brigade of Indian Army then posted in the area is responsible for the Kunan -Poshpora episode, the Civil Society and Human Rights bodies in Kashmir demand impartial and independent probe of the incident, after which a local court has taken the cognizance.
Meanwhile State Human Right Commission (SHRC) has recommended strict action against then Director Prosecution for “deliberately scuttling” the investigation into the Kunan Poshpora rape incident , in its Annual Report for the year 2011-12, SHRC has expressed “displeasure over the way the matter was handled and victims were ignored by the successive governments and district administration.” As on October 19, 2011, the SHRC had asked the J&K government to constitute a Special Investigation Team headed by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police to re-investigate the mass rapes of women by army in Kunan Poshpora villages.But till date nothing has been done substantially.
Howover, the rape victims of Kunan Poshpora demand stern action against the culprits involved in these horrendous act and take it as war crime.
