Date:21/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/21/stories/2004122104281200.htm

National

Army officer gets 5 days to prepare defence in rape case

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, DEC. 20. Court martial proceedings began today against Major Rehman Hussain of the 33 Rashtriya Rifles, who has been accused of raping of a young woman and her 12-year-old daughter.

The in camera proceedings took place at the Brigade Headquarters in the north Kashmir town of Uri, around 100 km from here. The officer was handed over five charges by the Presiding Officer, Brigadier S.A. Hasnain.

Major Hussain said he had not been given ample time to prepare his defence and sought the adjournment of the hearing. He said that his counsel, Brig. (retd.) M.P.G. Menon, could not arrive due to bad weather.

The court allowed him five days to prepare his defence and arrange a defence counsel.

Major Hussain has prima facie been found to have outraged the modesty of the woman and her daughter in a village in Handwara on November 6. He has been charged with raping the woman and her daughter, unauthorised entry into their house, not taking women police personnel along during the search operation and violating Army discipline and order.

The blood samples of the victims and the accused have been sent for DNA tests and the results are awaited.

On Sunday, the Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani alleged that a woman in Doda district had been raped by four soldiers of the 26 Rashtriya Rifles and shot dead later. The incident, according to the faction's spokesman, occurred on December 14.