1,400 Rape Victims List Revealed in IHK

SRINAGAR (Agencies) – Indian-occupied Kashmir chief minister apologised Friday after his government revealed the names of some 1,400 women raped in the violence-hit state during the last five years.


I tender an unconditional apology to the victims and their families. There is a deep sense of shame over the revealing of names (of the victims), Omar Abdullah told the state legislature. On Thursday a written reply by the states home department to a lawmakers query contained a list of nearly 1,400 women raped since 2006, giving out their names, parentage and residential addresses. However, only one person had been convicted during the last five years, the government reply said.


Abdullah, who heads the department, pledged that such a thing will never take place again and said he would look into the matter. He made his apology after the main opposition People Democratic Party protested over the issue.


I tender an unconditional apology. There is a deep sense of shame over revealing the names of the victims, Abdullah said in the Assembly. I will look into the matter to find out under what circumstances the names have been revealed and will get back to the House, he said.


His reply came in response to Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Muftis charge that the government had caused stigma to the victims by revealing their identities. She said it was in contravention of Section 228 (A) of the Indian Penal Code and the Supreme Court ruling.


According to the government, Jammu and Srinagar account for the highest number of rape cases in the state. Jammu had registered 150 cases since 2006 and Srinagar 120 during the same period.