The Kunan Poshpora mass rape case took a setback as the Supreme Cout of India, on Monday, continued the stay on the J&K High court order on Investigation and Compensation to the victims.
The twin villages of Kunan and Poshpora faced mass rape and torture of atleast 100 women, after the Indian army cordoned the village on the pretext of a search operation. The male members were rounded up while the women were kept in their houses, where they were raped.
The army has contended before the apex court that the allegations of rape and torture are “a hoax orchestrated by militant groups…part of a cleverly contrived strategy of psychological warfare…to discredit the security forces by indulging in false propaganda with a view to jeopardize the conduct of counter insurgency operations in the Valley”.
Admitting for hearing separate appeals by Jammu and Kashmir government and Indian army against the high court orders, a bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul also ordered that “hearing of the appeals be expedited.”
Earlier this year, the army filed the special leave petition, more than 18 months after the state government challenged the high court orders which asked it to pay compensation to the victims.
These orders were passed by the High Court in a petition filed by five survivors the infamous incident.
To date, six victims of rape and torture have died. The oldest victims was 80 years old at the time and the youngest was aged 7.
