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over 9,000 women raped and molested, 22,000 women widowed and around 10,600 children orphaned in the Kashmir conflict

Srinagar, March 8: Raja Begum of Tumpora Handwara, is paying a heavy price for raising her voice against the SHO Handwara. Raja Begum has alleged that the SHO had detained her in Police Station Handwara in December 2004 and had molested her. However, she displayed exemplary courage and narrated her woeful tale in front of the media and had gone to the court for seeking justice. Raja Begum raising her voice has infuriated the concerned officer, who has threatened her of dire consequences. She and her family members are very scared to visit their home in Handawara. Raja begum said, " I and my family members are living under the constant fear and we don't know what future holds for us. I had thought that, if I raise my voice against the said officer and would make the people aware about what, I have under gone, it will shake the conscience of those people who are enjoying the echelons of power." She added, "however, I raising my voice has hardly made any difference as till today no enquiry has been initiated against the said officer. Instead we have become the scape goats and we are facing immense mental torture." It is in place to mention here that Handwara police had registered a case against her family members including her husband Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and her brother- in- law Farooq Ahmed Bhat on some dispute with their cousins, Abdul Ahad Khan and Bashir Khan. Later police had arrested her brother in law, who was released on bail later. Raja Begum had alleged that she was taken to the Police station Handwara from her house, where she was detained for one full day. She had alleged that the concerned SHO molested her and took Rs.700/ from her before releasing her. Her story appeared in many local dailies, however till date no action has been initiated against the said officer. Raja said, " on 3rd March a police constable Mohammad Yosuf came to our house and told me that, we should meet the SHO." She added, " he told us not to come to the police station, as 'Sahab' wants to meet us outside the police station. He assured us that if we grease their palms, we won't be troubled and our case will be challaned in court." He husband Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who was accompanying he said, " we told the cop to present the chalan in the court and we will fight the case on our own. However, he refused saying that case won't be challaned until their palms are not greased." Bhat says that he wants to migrate from the said village along with his family members. "We have been undergoing severe mental torture and I don't want to stay there." Baramulla Raja Ajaz Ali Khan said, " I have told the concerned SHO to present the challan in the court." He added, " if the allegations leveled by the said lady prove to be true, I will make sure that action is initiated against the said officer."

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