Srinagar: Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani today expressed concern over rising incidents of crime against women and demanded an impartial probe into allegations of sexual harassment.
“Any conscientious citizen will be concerned at reports of sexual harassment against women. There should be an impartial and fair probe into these allegations,” he said in a statement here.
The chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference was referring to the allegation of molestation levelled by a nurse against her four senior officers, and the incident of alleged molestation of a student by her teacher. The nurse along with her children and husband met Geelani at his residence this morning.
The Hurriyat leader said instead of being investigated in the corridors of power, the allegations should be probed in an open court.
“People should be kept abreast of developments of the case on a day-to-day basis. Instead of the usual slow pace of investigations, the trial should be expedited and anyone found guilty should be given stern punishment,” he said.
Geelani said incidents of sexual assaults and harassment were against religious teachings and traditions of Kashmiri society.
“Only a puritanical system of governance can stop such crimes against women,” the separatist leader said.
