IAF woman flying officer accuses wing commander of sexual assault
Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case after a woman flying officer of the Indian Air Force submitted a complaint against the “continuous harassment, sexual assault and mental torture” that she said she was subjected to over the past two years at the Air Force Station, Srinagar.
The police have registered an FIR under Section 376(2) of the IPC at Budgam police station, with officials saying that an investigation is under way.
The woman officer in her complaint said that after a New Year party held at the officers’ mess at the Air Force Station in Srinagar on December 31 last year, a wing commander-level officer asked her if she had received her gift. The officer asked her to come to his room where he had kept all the gifts; there he molested her and forced her to have oral sex, she alleged.
“I repeatedly asked him to stop this. Finally, I pushed him away and ran from there,” she said in the complaint.
The officer said it took “a while for her to register what had happened”.
“I revealed the incident to two women officers. They asked me to complain. I was embarrassed and lacked the courage to report it,” the complaint said.
According to the officer, she finally decided to fight. “A colonel was asked to investigate the incident,” she said, adding that the accused officer was made to sit with her twice.
The officer said when she objected to his presence, she was told to put in a fresh application.
“It took two months for the station to assemble an Internal Committee (IC). The station authorities shielding the offender was heartbreaking for me,” she said in the complaint.
The woman officer also criticised the internal committee. “Despite me providing all facts and bringing out the lies and contradictions in the tutored witnesses, the IC disregarded everything. I had brought out the negligence of station authorities…how a witness was made to exit the camp area before giving his statement,” she said.
“The IC did not do its job property as directions had come from above to keep the result neutral,” she alleged, adding that her request for the transfer of the accused was not entertained. “I am forced to socialise with these people and attend events with my abuser. Due procedure was not followed. I am getting harassed at the hands of authorities on a daily basis,” the officer said.
The internal committee, according to the officer, is “inconclusive whether the incident happened because of lack of eyewitnesses”.
“Isn't it common sense that someone would not do a sexual assault in front of a witness. The investigation ended on May 15,” the complaint said.
She said till date “no action has been taken”. “My personal communications have been constantly monitored unofficially, and the individuals I speak with are harassed,” the officer said.
The officer demanded an FIR and “appropriate legal action against all perpetrators”. She has named several officers in the complaint.
“I am attaching copies of all relevant documents and evidence supporting my claims. I am also willing to provide further details or statements, should the need arise,” she said.
“Following no action in the case, I have decided to approach police. I hope you will take immediate action to ensure justice is served and that my rights are protected,” she said.
Meanwhile, IAF officials in New Delhi said the force was cooperating in the case. The police at Budgam had been approached to get all the details, IAF officials said, adding that they were aware of the case being registered and had taken note of it.
