Army commanders face sex charges

Chandigarh: The Indian Army, which opened its doors to women about a decade ago, suddenly finds itself besieged with complaints of sexual harassment within its own ranks.

At least two young women officers a lieutenant and a captain have charged their own commanding officers of sexual assault.

In the latest instance, a captain with the judge advocate-general's branch at the Nagrota (Jammu) based 16 Corps has accused her own superior officer, Colonel Virender Mohan of sexually harassing and molesting her.

The woman officer, who submitted a detailed written complaint after having verbally communicated the matter to the Northern Army Commander at Udhampur, is currently stated to be in military hospital where she is said to under treatment for intense anxiety related to post traumatic stress syndrome possibly linked to continued sexual assault.

And though the 16 Corps Commander, Lt Gen Tej Saproo, said "an inquiry is in progress to ascertain the facts of the case", reports indicate that his office was apprised of the matter in March.

In an earlier instance, a military court of Inquiry has indicted the commanding officer and a major of an air defence regiment deployed in the Western Sector for sexually assaulting a newly commissioned woman lieutenant under their command.

Army authorities at the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps confirmed that Colonel D. Mitra and Major Sudhir Nohwar have been attached to the 96 Infantry Brigade ahead of Summary of Evidence proceedings ordered after inquiry found "substance" in the lady officer's charges.

However, while the statement issued by Corps headquarters denies any allegation of "rape" against the officers, the detailed chargesheet served on them is believed to bear multiple counts of "rape" involving both the colonel and the major.

Clearly disturbed over such morale-wrecking incidents in both Western and Northern Command formations, Army authorities have promised "appropriate action." But many officers feel that the action, particularly in such instances, needs to be more prompt.