Headlines       Vol. 1 Issue 34-35

Jan 22-Feb 6 , 1999

Army jawans given clean chit in rape case The two Army jawans who were indicted in the Nalbari rape case earlier have been given a clean chit by the state forensic science laboratory (SFSL). An SFSL spokesman told media persons that no semen was found in the vaginal swab sample that was sent to them. Therefore the SFSL has endorsed the Army's plea that no rape was committed. Last year, two women from Nalbari, Manki Benboruah and Anima Das, had alleged that the former had been raped by the Army jawans. Following the allegation, the chief judicial magistrate of the district asked the SFSL to examine the vaginal swab of Ms. Bezboruah. Significantly, the findings of the SFSL comes as a shot in the arm for the Army which has already gone ahead to file a defamation suit against both Ms. Bezboruah and Ms. Das. Charging the women with bringing false and fabricated allegations against its personnel, the Army claimed that the women had been instigated by vested interests. The allegations by the women had created a furore among the human rights groups in the State. The Nalbari district witnessed several demonstrations and rallies in protest.

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