Protest in north Kashmir against molestation of girl by Army

Baramulla, May 27 (UNI) People at Pattan in north Kashmir today took to the streets in protest against the alleged molestation of a girl by two Army personnel, official sources said.

However, a defence spokesman in Srinagar said the allegations were totally false and baseless.

He said the matter was investigated immediately after receiving the information that some people were protesting against the Army.

The spokesman said during the investigation the allegations were found incorrect.

However, he said on the suggestion from some elders that a soldier had passed a comment when a girl was passing the area, it was decided that sector commander will take all the Army personnel, who were on highway domination duty, to the girl's house to find what actually had happened.

If anybody was found involved he will be punished, the spokesman said.

He denied the reports that five army personnel were held captive by the villagers in a school.

Earlier, hundreds of people, including women, took to the streets at Singpora Pattan in this district, raising anti-Army slogans.

The demonstrators, who blocked the Srinagar-Uri highway, alleged two Army personnel allegedly molested a 9th class girl student at Daslipora Pattan.

They further said it was shocking that the incident took place two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared zero tolerance for human rights violations.

Shops and business establishments in the area also remained closed in protest against the incident.

UNI XC/BAS RL PM1851