M A I N   N E W S

Kashmir again
Cop indicted for sexual abuse

Srinagar, February 6
Already facing criticism heat over fake encounters, the image of Jammu and Kashmir Police today took further beating when an internal inquiry report indicted one of its officials for allegedly indulging in sexual abuse of women constables and corruption.

According to the police inquiry, Assistant Sub-inspector Feroze Ahmad Najar, who was in charge of deployment of women police contingent, had sexually abused them and charged money for keeping them off duty.

“In the totality of the circumstances, facts, audio and documentary evidence available, the charges of corruption and sexual abuse are established against ASI Feroze Ahmad,” the inquiry officer wrote in his report which was submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Najar, who had been demoted to the rank of head constable as punitive action last year following the departmental inquiry, had moved the court seeking quashing of the order.

However, judge Bashir Ahmad Kirmani, hearing the case, took strong exception to the lack of concern by senior police offices and directed the crime branch to investigate the criminal aspect of the case.

Woman constable Shahnaz Akhter, in her statement before the inquiry officer, said Najar would ask her to identify beautiful girls so that he would exploit them sexually.

“Najar was supplying women constables to the officers for sexual exploitation,” Akhter said, adding she barely managed to escape from his clutches.

On another occasion, Akhter said Najar had taken one of the woman constables to the house of a constable at Bemina. According to the inquiry report, this statement was corroborated by constable Amar Paul Singh, in whose house the incident had taken place in January last year.

Regarding charges of corruption, the report said prior to the serving of summary of allegations to the delinquent officer, a careful crosscheck of the records from November 22, 2005 to January 25, 2006 was carried out.

Najar allegedly kept some woman constables off duty in lieu of monetary returns depending on the period they wanted to avail as free holidays.

The allegations of letting some woman constables from the duty on money consideration levelled against the delinquent officer was found substantial. Thus, on the basis of the availability of documentary proof, summary allegations were served to Najar to which he pleaded not guilty, the inquiry report said.

While directing the SSP of crime branch to investigate the matter, the court directed the DGP and other authorities concerned to assist the crime branch in the investigation.

The SSP was also directed to furnish his report to the chief judicial magistrate of Srinagar who shall monitor the investigations.

The magistrate was asked to submit the first report by February 28 and the case was listed for first week of March. — PTI