IAF Officer Accused of Rape, Air Force Assists Police Investigation

An FIR has been lodged at Budgam police station against a Wing Commander after a woman flying officer accused him of rape, officials reported on Tuesday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) stated it is cooperating with the police investigation. Both officers are currently stationed in Srinagar.

The complaint was filed by the woman officer on Sunday, leading to an FIR under Section 3762 of the IPC at Budgam police station in central Kashmir. "We are aware of the case. The Air Force Station in Srinagar was approached by the local Budgam police station on the subject. We are fully cooperating towards this case," a senior IAF official said.

Allegations and Incident Details

The 26-year-old woman officer claimed she faced continuous harassment, sexual assault, and mental torture, primarily by authorities at the Air Force Station in Srinagar. In her complaint, she recounted an incident at a New Year party on December 31, 2023, where her senior asked if she had received a gift. When she said no, he asked her to come to his room where he had kept all the gifts.

Upon reaching his room and finding his family absent, she alleged that her senior forced her into oral sex and molested her. "I repeatedly asked him to stop doing it and tried to resist it in all ways possible. Finally, I pushed him and ran away," she said.

Response and Investigation

After the incident, the woman officer confided in two other women officers who advised her to file a complaint. She described feeling embarrassed and broken, lacking the courage to report initially due to being new to the forces' environment. "I went into a mental shock being new to the atmosphere in forces. I was embarrassed and broken to the extent that I lacked the courage to report," she said.

Eventually, she decided to fight back and filed a complaint. A Colonel-rank officer was assigned to investigate, but she objected to the Wing Commander's presence during her statement recording on January 29 and 30. She claimed that the investigation was closed prematurely to cover up administrative mistakes.

Internal Committee's Role

The woman officer alleged that she was instructed to submit a fresh application addressed to the Internal Committee. Despite doing so, it took two months for the station to form an Internal Committee. She accused station authorities of bias in favour of the alleged offender and expressed disappointment over their handling of her medical examination.

"The bias of Stn Station authorities to aid the sexual offender was very heart-breaking for me," she said, adding that directions from higher formations influenced the Internal Committee's neutrality. She further alleged that everyone was aiding the sexual offender.

Ongoing Harassment

The woman officer also complained of ongoing mental harassment and social boycott. She claimed her personal communications were monitored unofficially, and individuals she spoke with were harassed by authorities. "My personal communications have been constantly monitored unofficially. The individuals I speak with are harassed by the authorities," she alleged.

The Internal Committee concluded its probe in May, stating it was inconclusive due to a lack of eyewitnesses. "Isn't it common sense that someone would not do sexual assault in front of a witness?" she added.

She requested police intervention for appropriate legal action against those responsible. "I hope you will take immediate action to ensure justice is served and that my rights are protected," she added.