Thousands protest against alleged rapes by soldiers in Kashmir

INDIA: Thousands of people in Indian Kashmir staged a protest yesterday, alleging that soldiers had raped a 10-year-old girl…

INDIA: Thousands of people in Indian Kashmir staged a protest yesterday, alleging that soldiers had raped a 10-year-old girl and her mother, police and witnesses said.

The army denied the allegation, the third against defence and police personnel in the troubled Himalayan region in the last 10 days.

"There is no question of rape," army spokesman Lieut Col V.K. Batra said, adding that the matter was being investigated.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state, has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

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"We have ordered an inquiry and the guilty will be punished," Mufti Mohammad Syed, Kashmir's chief minister, told a news conference.

Police said they registered a case against seven army personnel on Saturday for another alleged rape in southern Kashmir, while on October 29th, another two soldiers and a policeman were arrested on similar charges.

Witnesses said more than 2,000 protesters shouted slogans against the army and the government yesterday in Handwara town, 80 kilometres north of Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital.

Police said protesters blocked the main street of the town and shouted slogans such as "we want justice".

They said soldiers allegedly raped the woman and her daughter at their house at Baderpayeen village on the outskirts of Handwara when troops were searching their home.

Lieut Col Batra said there was nobody in the house during the search.

"The soldiers were searching a militant contact when they entered this house.

"All the inmates of the house were taken outside the house," he said.

Human rights groups blame the Indian army and militant groups for widespread abuses in Kashmir.

Indian authorities deny the allegations, saying they investigate all reports and punish the guilty.

Kashmiri separatists gave a cautious welcome yesterday to India's offer to allow them to visit Pakistan, saying it could help to restart a stalled dialogue process.

Indian Home Minister Mr Shivraj Patil, on a visit to Kashmir, said on Saturday he was ready for unconditional talks with separatist leaders, and had no objection if they wanted to visit Pakistan before talks were held.