Hope makes victim’s family vote

 
DANISH NABI

Dandipora (Kokernag), Dec 17:  Family of a 13-year-old girl, who was allegedly gang raped by the troops on December 3 in this south Kashmir hamlet, on Wednesday voted with the hope that politicians who would come into power would “punish the culprits” involved in the heinous act.         

 Victim’s mother, Rukaya begum told Greater Kashmir, “The memories of that horrifying night are still afresh in my mind. We’ve clearly mentioned in our statement that my daughter was gang raped by the troops. The officials recorded our statement, but we don’t know what they wrote.”

 Officials had claimed that the family members of the victim in the written complaint had made no mention about the alleged rape, and had described it as a case of molestation. 

 Rukaya said that after the incident candidates of different political parties visited their house to express solidarity with them. 

 “Abdur Rahim Rather of National Conference and Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed of Congress had come here. They assured us that the incident would be investigated and culprits would be punished,” she added.

 However, Rukaya said that voting had got nothing to do with the tragedy that struck their family. “We have been asked to vote by the candidates who came here for campaigning and we will definitely vote. As they (candidates)  have  promised us, after they win they would not spare the culprits,” she said.  “I don’t know what will happen if I vote or if I don’t vote, but I will try. My husband and brother have gone to cast their vote. We were busy with some work but we would all be going to the polling station soon.” 

 The other family members who were standing besides Rukaya said their area sans basic amenities. “We don’t have water. We suffer for the basic needs of life. The candidates have assured us that they would provide us all the facilities,” they added.