PDP stages walk-out of J-K assembly over molestation case

People's Democratic Party (PDP) legislators on Wednesday staged a walk-out from the Jammu and Kashmir assembly over lack of progress in a molestation case.

The legislators, who were questioning the transfer of an officer who was probing the alleged sexual harassment of a lady doctor by former state health minister Shabir Ahmad Khan, created a ruckus in the assembly.

"Amid investigation of the case, where it is registered, why was the officer transferred? So, this raises finger on the Interior department, which is directly under the control of the Chief Minister. There is a ruling of the Supreme Court, according to which if any woman or her brother or relative goes to register an FIR within no time it has to be done but in this case, nothing of this kind happened. This lady had to go from pillar to the post, she went to the court and then the action was taken," she said.

The doctor in her complaint to the police alleged that Khan made provocative advances to her - both verbal and physical - and molested her when she met him for an official work in the civil secretariat in Srinagar.

State Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloom however, said the transfer was a routine exercise.

Mufti added that a Congress leader divulged the identity of the victim and a FIR should be registered against him.

Although the Speaker in Jammu assembly attempted to bring order in the House, the opposition continued to disrupt the proceedings.