Srinagar, July 23: Reacting sharply to the statement of Lt Gen S A Hasnain, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15th Corps, on the gang rape of woman in south Kashmir’s  Kulgam district allegedly by soldiers, the Hurriyat Conference (G) on Saturday termed it ‘ambiguous, surprising and highly condemnable.’
 The Hurriyat spokesman, in a statement today, termed as misleading the GOC’s statement that the perpetrators of rape could be militants because it was, according to him (GOC) impossible for two soldiers to remain out of their unit for 48-hours with weapons.
  “The spot where gang rape was committed by soldiers is very near to the army picket and it was not difficult for the erring soldiers to keep going to picket and coming back to the spot turn by turn. Further, the spot is so near to the army picket that no militant can stay for two days there,” said the Hurriyat spokesman, adding that “The army is trying to save the guilty soldiers and has therefore started to issue ambiguous and confusing statements.”
 “Since the shameful incident is a challenge to all the Kashmiris’ honour and conscience, the Hurriyat cannot remain silent,” he said, warning of serious consequences if the soldiers involved in the incident were not immediately presented in the court for justice. 
 Commenting on the chief minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that AFSPA would not be allowed to come in the way of investigation in the rape incident, the spokesman said, “Though it is a very big claim, the reality will come to fore within a few days. For, if Omar Abdullah is really true to his word, he should get the case investigated in the open court rather than by army itself. The case should be filed against the perpetrators of the crime in the Jammu Kashmir High Court for immediate hearing and the victim provided an opportunity to give her statement without any pressure and fear.”
 The spokesman said that Hurriyat was keenly watching the matter and would very soon gather all the realities together and make these public.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST