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India, Kashmir: over 9,000 women raped and molested, 22,000 women widowed and around 10,600 children orphaned in the Kashmir conflict

A woman paying a heavy price for raising voice against the police officer
(Wadi ki Awaz)

Srinagar, March 8: Raja Begum of Tumpora Handwara, is paying a heavy price for raising her voice against the SHO Handwara. Raja Begum has alleged that the SHO had detained her in Police Station Handwara in December 2004 and had molested her. However, she displayed exemplary courage and narrated her woeful tale in front of the media and had gone to the court for seeking justice. Raja Begum raising her voice has infuriated the concerned officer, who has threatened her of dire consequences. She and her family members are very scared to visit their home in Handawara. Raja begum said, " I and my family members are living under the constant fear and we don't know what future holds for us. I had thought that, if I raise my voice against the said officer and would make the people aware about what, I have under gone, it will shake the conscience of those people who are enjoying the echelons of power." She added, "however, I raising my voice has hardly made any difference as till today no enquiry has been initiated against the said officer. Instead we have become the scape goats and we are facing immense mental torture." It is in place to mention here that Handwara police had registered a case against her family members including her husband Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and her brother- in- law Farooq Ahmed Bhat on some dispute with their cousins, Abdul Ahad Khan and Bashir Khan. Later police had arrested her brother in law, who was released on bail later. Raja Begum had alleged that she was taken to the Police station Handwara from her house, where she was detained for one full day. She had alleged that the concerned SHO molested her and took Rs.700/ from her before releasing her. Her story appeared in many local dailies, however till date no action has been initiated against the said officer. Raja said, " on 3rd March a police constable Mohammad Yosuf came to our house and told me that, we should meet the SHO." She added, " he told us not to come to the police station, as 'Sahab' wants to meet us outside the police station. He assured us that if we grease their palms, we won't be troubled and our case will be challaned in court." He husband Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who was accompanying he said, " we told the cop to present the chalan in the court and we will fight the case on our own. However, he refused saying that case won't be challaned until their palms are not greased." Bhat says that he wants to migrate from the said village along with his family members. "We have been undergoing severe mental torture and I don't want to stay there." Baramulla Raja Ajaz Ali Khan said, " I have told the concerned SHO to present the challan in the court." He added, " if the allegations leveled by the said lady prove to be true, I will make sure that action is initiated against the said officer."

A woman's unending quest to catch a glimpse of her son in prison

SRINAGAR, APR 28 : Bail orders granted to detainees booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) by the courts are generally not responded to by the authorities. Ailing Hajra Bano, a widow is fighting for the justice for her son. Having no source of income the old lady finds it hard even to survive. Hailing from Malbagh, Hazratbal (Srinagar), she somehow manages to fight for her son. " Life for me has been too cruel. I lost my husband and now when I could pin hopes on my son, destiny had something else for me". Controlling her tears, she continues, " I have to travel far and wide just to have a glimpse of my son that he is fine". Taking a pause and moving few steps back, she maintains, " My pains seem unending." Hajra's son Mehraj- ud -Din was booked under PSA, the detention that was later quashed under release order No. 30th October 2003 J & K High Court, Srinagar. The order of detention was vide No. DMS/ PSA/ dated 02 - 07 - 2002. Petition was, however, allowed on 28 - 10 - 2003. Superintendent Central Jail, Kot- Balwal was directed to release the detainee forth will, the court papers read. But so far the detainee has not been set free. Though he has been transferred to Srinagar jails, his mother finds it difficult to trace him. "Transferring him from one jail to other, now lying in a jail within the premises of the city", his mother tearfully stated " This is the way human rights are honoured in the state. Being feeble and handicapped, I can not run from post to pillar to know about the whereabouts of my son. Financially also I am not sound to arrange for the required formalities, time and again. But the law of the land fails to see all this."