M A I N   N E W S

Another case of sexual assault in Army
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 18
Close on the heels of a lady officer alleging sexual assault by her commanding officer, another case has come to light where a lady officer has alleged molestation at the hands of a senior officer.

In a written complaint forwarded this month to the General Officer Commanding, 16 Corps, Nagrota, a lady officer has accused Lt-Col Virender Mohan, posted in the corps’ Judge Advocate-General’s Branch, of molesting and harassing her.

A written query sent through an e-mail to the Army’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Jammu three days ago, followed by a reminder, has not elicited any response. Receipt of the query was acknowledged.

While it could not be ascertained what action Corps Headquarters has initiated on the complaint, the matter has been brought to the attention of senior officers at Headquarters. Northern Command, sources said.

The lady officer in question is at present admitted to a military hospital. According to sources, she was admitted to the hospital on May 6, after she complained of anxiety and uneasiness. Thereafter, she was examined by a psychiatrist, where she is believed to have narrated the cause of her anxiety. She was admitted to hospital for a second time a few days later.

The medical specialists are also believed to have reported the matter up the chain of command through their own channels. Sources said that among officers and ladies who visited her in hospital to enquire about her well-being was the Chief of Staff, 16 Corps, Major-Gen B.S. Jaswal.

The lady officer, who had been awarded an appreciation by an Army Commander at her previous place of posting, moved to Jammu and Kashmir only a few months ago.

In March, sources revealed, she first verbally reported about being harassed to the Brigadier in change of administration, 16 Corps, Brig Anil Malik. Thereafter, she also appraised the Chief of Staff about such instances and had a personal interview with the Corps Commander. It was then that she was asked to file a formal complaint.

Meanwhile, reacting to news report about a commanding officer and a Major from an air defence regiment being indicted by a court of inquiry for allegedly raping a lady officer of the lady officer had complained only of harassment and victimisation.

A statement issued by Headquarters 11 Corps yesterday said that a court of inquiry into the complaint was completed in April 2006, which found some substance in the allegations which needed further investigation. The officers have been attached accordingly to another formation for recording of summary of evidence.

A copy of the charge sheet against the officer, which formed the basis for the report, clearly mentions that the officer was raped. The charge sheet, signed by Brig Sarabjit Singh, Commander, 96 Infantry Brigade, on May 11, 2006, at Tibri, lists out six instances of rape, besides other charges. The first charge, under Section 69 of the Army Act, accuses the officer of "Committing a civil offence that is to say, contrary to Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, in that he, at field during October 2004, committed rape of (number, rank and name), a woman officer of the same regiment. Other charges of this nature, according to the charge sheet, pertain to November 2004, January 2005, March 2005, June 2005 and August 2005. Four other charges, under Sections 56 (c), 57 (d) and 63 of the Army Act, pertain to periods up to March 2006.