Chairman MC Baramulla among 3 booked for ‘trespass’, ‘assault’ on women councilors at Gulmarg hotel
Baramulla: Police on Thursday filed a case against Chairman Municipal Committee Baramulla and Chairman Block Development Council Boniyar, and a councilor for “trespass and assault” on two women councilors with an “intention to outrage their modesty” at a hotel in Gulmarg.
A police official said that a case under FIR no. 06/2020 U/S 354/452 was registered in Police Station Gulmarg on a complaint filed by the two women councilors (name withheld) who had alleged that Chairman MC Baramulla Omar Azhar Kakro, Chairman BDC Boniyar, Bilal Ahmad Mir, and a councilor Ashiq Hussain Ganai allegedly came to their hotel room and abused them and their families besides attacking them physically.
The case has been registered under IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint).
Two female councilors of Baramulla Municipal Committee (BMC) alleged Chairman Municipal Committee Baramulla and Chairman Block Development Council Boniyar, Baramulla and a councilor harassed them yesterday night at a Hotel Affarwat in Gulmarg.
As per the reports, the Municipal councilors of Baramulla town were shifted to a hotel in Gulmarg till August 15 for security reasons.
Talking to ‘Kashmir Images’, a female councilor alleged, “Yesterday we were putting up a hotel along with our families. Late in the night, Umar Kakroo, Ashiq Hussain Ganaie, and one BDC chairman entered our room.
“They were drunk and asked others to throw us and our daughters out. We called police and security forces for help who managed to get them out of our room, which created a lot of ruckus,” she added.
Another female councilor also alleged that the BMC chairman and others who were accompanying him were drunk. “They harassed and abused us in our room. Thankfully there were security forces who helped us otherwise the situation would have been different.”
SSP Baramulla Abdul Qayoom said that there was “some altercation” between the two sides. A case has been registered in this regard and investigation taken up, the SSP added.
If convicted, they face imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both under section 354 IPC. For house trespass, a convicted can be imprisoned for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BMC Chairman Baramulla, Umar Kakroo refuted the allegations and termed it a conspiracy.
“I have full faith in law. If I am proven guilty I should be hanged in the main chowk. There were some issues between the women folk and I being a chairman BMC rushed to the spot and now they are dragging me into a controversy,” Kakroo said and added that the police should investigate the matter properly to find out the truth.
Another accused councilor Ashiq Ganai also said that “it is conspiracy against us as they have recently faced rejection of ‘no confidence motion’ against Kakroo.”
“It is just frustration and nothing else,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that a no confidence motion against Umar Azhar Kakroo moved by councilors last week was rejected.
At least 10 councilors had moved a motion on Monday to Chief Executive Officer MC Baramulla informing him that they no longer supported Kakroo and he ( Kakroo) had lost their trust .
However, later in the day, the CEO rejected the motion terming it “non- maintainable” under Rule 25 Section 4 of J&K Municipal Act, 2000.
Independent sources said that it is the rivalry between two groups in Municipal Council Baramulla which has led to the Gulmarg incident.
