Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 6: Police registered a case against Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, and three other top officials of the Health Department following a complaint by a nurse of the department that they tried to rape her.
The complaint was lodged yesterday by the nurse, posted in South Kashmir district of Anantnag, at Police Station Shaheed Gunj against Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman and Chief Medical Officer Anantnag, Dr Nazir Shahdad, Block Medical Officer Saller, Dr Arshad Tak and Medical Superintendent Seer Dr Ashraf.
The FIR (No. 46/2014 dated 05-06-2014 under Section 354 A RPC) registered in the police station on the complaint of the victim reads that Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman had called her to his office in Srinagar yesterday where he made indecent advances toward her by pulling her and even tried to touch her private parts.
The nurse alleged that the DHSK asked her to spend a night with him. “When I resisted, he threatened to kill me”, reads the FIR.
“Saleem-ur-Rehman crossed all the limits and had made a plan to outrage my modesty (rape) and with great difficulty I saved myself”, reads the FIR lodged on the victim’s complaint. Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman when contacted by the Excelsior didn’t respond.
The victim also alleged that the three other officers had previously asked her to “spend a night with them”.
As per the FIR, the victim claimed: “The CMO and BMO even visited my residential quarter in Pahalgam in an inebriated condition and tried to catch hold of me and rape me”.
She also alleged that her husband, who also works in the Health Department, was placed under suspension and transferred on a fake complaint. “They also transferred me to Seer where Dr Ashraf tried to rape me on the directions of DHSK, CMO and BMO”, she alleged.
“We went from pillar to post in search of justice and even called on several politicians including a former MP of the National Conference, who called the Minister. The minister called us, me and my husband, but refused to take any action against the accused persons. He said I can’t go against my CMO and BMO. Now I request you (police) to lodge an FIR against these cruel adulterers so that I get justice,” the victim said in the complaint.
Police has registered the case under Section 354-A of RPC against the officials named in the complaint. Under the Section deals with word, gesture or an act intended to insult modesty of a woman.
A legal export, however, told Excelsior that case has multi-dimensions and needs three separate FIRs’ in three Police Stations as the criminal act has taken place at three places. He said that there is complaint of attempt to rape and FIR should have been lodged under Section 376/511 of RPC.
The Nurse alleged that Police officials in the Police Station asked her to withdraw the complaint. “We will bring the Director, the CMO and the BMO here and whatever you want, you take it. If you need promotion, you tell us. I refused and I told them that I need an FIR copy”, the victim told Excelsior.
However, a police spokesman said that Police Station Shaheed Gunj while taking cognizance of a complaint by a nurse alleging molestation by some Health Department officials has registered a case vide FIR No. 46/2014 U/S 354 RPC. “The complainant has accused four officials of Health Department of molesting her. Taking instant cognizance, investigations were started. Scene of incident was visited by the police, and statements of some eyewitnesses were also recorded which prima facie, negates the allegations. Statements of all the witnesses and officials having any information regarding the incident will be recorded in order to explore other angles. The case is being investigated on fast track basis to conclude it on its merits. Police has also obtained CCTV footage”, the spokesman added.
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