A flying officer with the Indian Air Force (IAF) has accused her wing commander of rape in a complaint that has been converted into an FIR by the Budgam police station in central Kashmir.

Both officers are based in Srinagar.

In the FIR filed on Sunday, the complainant also accused some other officers of mishandling the investigation.

“(I) wish to file an FIR against the continuous harassment, sexual assault, and mental torture that I have been subjected to (for) over the last two years, primarily by authorities at the Air Force Station, Srinagar,” the FIR reads.

The complainant said her ordeal began at a New Year party on December 31 last year when the wing commander invited her to his room.

“After the party at around 0200 Hrs on 01 Jan 24 Wg Cdr… asked me whether I had received the gift. I said that I hadn’t received any. He asked me to come to his room where he had kept all the gifts. I went along with him to his room. He showed me his room and I asked him where are mam and kids,” the FIR stated.

The woman officer claimed the wing commander forced her into oral sex.

“Finally, I pushed him and ran away. He said that he would meet me on Friday again when his family leaves. Post this it took me a while to register what has happened with me. I was afraid and didn’t know what to do as there were instances before also wherein I was discouraged to report,” the complainant said.

The flying officer said the accused showed “no remorse” when he visited his office after the incident.

The complainant said she told two women officers about the incident and they guided her to file a complaint.

She said she had been under tremendous “mental agony” as “an unmarried girl who had joined forces and was treated in such a heinous manner”.

The flying officer said she was in a dilemma about discussing the incident but finally took a call and decided to fight.

The complainant said a colonel was ordered to investigate the matter and the wing commander was made to sit with her on January 29 and January 30. She claimed she objected to the senior officer’s presence and the investigation was closed to “hide the mistakes of the administration. I was told to put a fresh application addressed to the
Internal Committee”.

She said she put in a fresh application on January 31 but it allegedly took the air force station two months to “assemble an Internal Committee and finally on 02 Apr 24 Internal Committee assembled”.

“The bias of Stn (station) authorities to aid the sexual offender was very heart-breaking for me,” she said in the FIR. “IC (internal committee) did not do its job properly as directions had come from higher formation to keep the result as neutral. Everyone was aiding the sexual offender.”

She said she requested interim relief and asked for leave multiple times but
was denied.

“I am forced to socialise with these people and attend events with my abuser.... While he is enjoying. I am getting harassed in the hands of authorities on a daily basis,” the complainant said.

She alleged the internal committee said the case was inconclusive because of the lack of an eyewitness and closed its probe in May.

The flying officer complained of “continuous mental harassment” and “social boycott”.

“My personal communications have been constantly monitored unofficially. The individuals I speak with are harassed by the authorities,” she added. “The harassment has driven me to suicidal thoughts, and I feel utterly helpless.”