Manzgam (Kulgam), July 22: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of police constituted to probe the alleged abduction and rape of 25-year-old Rukaya Bano Friday visited the victim’s Dokha (makeshift house) inside Cheranbal forests here, in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, to collect circumstantial evidence. Officials said the identification of the soldiers stationed in the camp close to the village is likely to be carried on Saturday.
The police party headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) took the victim to the spot.
“The team collected the clothes belonging to the victim and also video-graphed the spot where the crime has been committed,” said Muhammad Shafi Mir, Additional Superintendent of Police, Kulgam. The evidence, he said, were collected in presence of a magistrate.
“We have asked the troopers patrolling in the forests to stay there for identification by the victim,” Mir said.
Police has meanwhile deployed its personnel including some women constables with the victim’s family. The policemen did not allow this reporter to talk to the victim.
“She went missing on Tuesday and we couldn’t trace her until Thursday morning,” said the victim’s husband. “On Thursday morning we spotted her near the Nallah (brook) in utter shock and she told me that she was raped.”
Police has already taken vaginal swabs of the woman and DNA samples and sent them for medical examination.
Entire Kulgam district today observed shutdown and protests for the second straight day against the alleged rape. Protesters clashed with police and CRPF men deployed in the area in heavy strength and torched a government vehicle belonging to Revenue Department and a scooter of a civilian.
Police fired dozens of tear smoke canisters to disperse the demonstrators who hurled stones on the personnel.
The locals alleged that CRPF personnel smashed windscreens of vehicles and windowpanes of houses. They also ransacked the merchandize of shopkeepers.
Protests in the area erupted Thursday after the word spread about the rape by two men in uniform. The protesters shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans took to roads demanding punishment to the guilty.
“We demand a thorough probe so that culprits are punished,” said Advocate Arshad Baba, a youth leader of the district.
About a dozen civilians and six CRPF men were injured in clashes in Manzgam.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also visited the area and staged a protest demonstration.
Protests also erupted in old town of Islamabad after Friday prayers in response to call by Hurriyat (G).

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST