Was molested by 40 men, complains soldier’s wife; two held

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SRINAGAR/CHENNAI, JUNE 11: Two people were taken into custody by police in Tamil Nadu for allegedly attacking, molesting and abusing the wife of a soldier, who has been posted in Kashmir.

Both the apprehended accused have been identified as Ramu and Hariprasad, police in Vellore said, adding that search for other accused was in progress.

This followed when a video released by an army jawan deputed in Kashmir and pleading for police action against alleged attackers of his wife had gone viral, with the Indian Army and the Tamil Nadu BJP taking up the matter with the senior police authorities.

Havildar Prabakaran had released the video urging the Tamil Nadu police chief for action against the persons who attacked his wife. He also accused them of stripping her “half-naked” and assaulting her in what is a fallout of a local dispute.

The soldier’s wife had complained that she was attacked and abused by nearly 40 men, who also touched her inappropriately.

“An Indian Army soldier in uniform gave a statement fearing for the safety of his family. Army has already contacted the #Police authorities who have assured all help post investigation,” the Indian Army’s Northern Command said on its official Twitter handle.

“One of the accused has already been arrested. Action is at hand to arrest others. The #IndianArmy accords high priority to well being of families who stay away from the soldiers deployed in field areas. In the instant case, local military authorities have reached out to the families and are also in constant touch with the civil #administration including civil police to ensure safety of the soldier’s family. Police have assured safety of the family,” it said.