Kunan Poshpora rape victims' statements recorded in court

A sessions court in Kupwara today recorded the statements of five victims of the alleged mass rape that took place in Kunan Poshpora area of the north Kashmir district in 1990.
The statements were recorded by the court following directions from the state High Court on May 14 to expedite proceedings in the 23 year old case, in which an Army unit was allegedly involved.
On May 14, the High Court disposed off a public interest litigation (PIL) on the Kunan Poshpora mass rape case holding that it would be premature for it to intervene as the case is pending before the Sessions court in Kupwara.

Coalition of Civil Society, a human rights group, had filed the PIL through Parvaiz Imroz on behalf of 50 alleged victims of the mass rape.
In 2011, the State Human Rights Commission had directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the victims. However, so far, no compensation has been paid.
Meanwhile, spokesman of Coalition of Civil Society, Khuram Pervez expressed surprise that the statements of victims were recorded in an open court in contravention to the Supreme Court guidelines on protecting the identity of the rape victims.
He said, the human rights group will explore legal avenues on protecting the identity of other victims who are scheduled to depose before the court on June 10.