Residents of Salar-Shiekhpura village in Pahalgam district took to the streets on Wednesday morning protesting against the alleged rape of Hakeem Jan, wife of Mohammad Sadiq Shah, by army personnel at her residence on Tuesday night, official sources said.
An FIR has been lodged against the accused personnel at Pahalgam police station and a joint civil and army investigation has been ordered to probe the allegation.
The woman reportedly threatened to set herself afire if the guilty personnel were not brought to book through an independent and impartial inquiry.
A spokesman of Srinagar-based 15 Corps vehemently denied the allegation. A medical examination, carried out at the Anantnag district hospital has negated the claim of rape, he said.
However, if the joint inquiry finds anyone guilty of wrongdoing, he would be dealt with according to established law, he added.
This is third rape allegation against army personnel in Kashmir in the past two months. In November, a 19-year old woman accused some army personnel of gang-raping her by at her residence in Mattan in Anantnag district on November 4.
Within days, a woman and her daughter were allegedly raped by an army major at Badra Payeen in Handwara area of Kupwara district. The officer is facing court martial proceedings.
