A case of alleged sexual harassment and mental torture has come to light after a 26-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) officer posted in Srinagar lodged a formal complaint in the Budgam police station against her senior.
In her complaint, the distraught flying officer has also accused five other officers of mishandling of investigation, stalking, harassment, and mental torture. The flying officer in her complaint has also claimed that the ongoing harassment has had a severe impact on my mental health. I am living in constant fear, under 24/7 scrutiny and my social life has been completely disrupted.
“The harassment has driven me to suicidal thoughts, and I feel utterly helpless. I am unable to carry on with my daily life, and my social interactions are closely monitored and discouraged by authorities”, she wrote in her complaint to the Jammu and Kashmir police. According to official sources, police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the senior IAF officer named in the case.
The FIR was lodged under Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to rape by a person in a position of trust or authority.
Confirming the ongoing probe in the matter, the IAF authorities in a brief statement said the Budgam Police Station has approached the concerned Air Force Station to investigate the case. IAF is cooperating in the investigation.
The lady officer in her complaint said the ordeal dates back to the night of December 31, 2023, during a New Year’s party at Air Force Station, Srinagar.
The lady said that after the party Wing Commander at the station asked her whether she had received the gift.
“I said that I hadn’t received any. He asked me to come to his room where he had kept all the gifts. I went along with him to his room,” she said in the complaint.
The lady officer accused the Wing Commander of sexually assaulting her in his room. “Despite resisting his advances, I was forced into a traumatic situation,” she alleged.
“I revealed the incident to two lady officers. They guided me in putting up a complaint. I went into a mental shock being new to the atmosphere. I was embarrassed and broken to the extent that I lacked the courage to report. I can’t describe the mental agony of being an unmarried girl who has joined forces and was treated in such a heinous manner. Since the incident, I have nightmares and in the dilemma whether to discuss or be quiet. Finally I took a call and decided to fight,” she said in the police complaint.
She alleged that she was troubled to see that even after she submitted a complaint to AOC (Air Officer Commanding) and a Colonel rank officer was ordered to investigate the incident, the accused was made to sit with her.
She alleged that an internal investigation was mishandled and her concerns were dismissed.
“I had pleaded in front of the Internal Committee (IC) to use their powers to summon a witness who was made to run away from the camp area before giving his statement, but the Internal Committee did not do so.”
IC disregarded everything despite providing all facts and bringing out lies and contradictions in tutored witnesses. I brought out the negligence of Station Authorities’ doings, how a witness was made to exit the camp area before giving his statement, body identification, etc.
She had even requested interim relief and requested leave multiple times but was denied leave each time.
“I asked that either I or the accused should get posted out this place, but to date, both are posted in the same place. I am forced to socialise with these people and attend events with my abuser,” she alleged.
