印控克什米尔地区的国会议员被指性侵
The former junior minister of health Shabir Ahmad Khan in Indian- controlled Kashmir accused of molesting a woman doctor has been evading arrest ever since a warrant was issued against him, officials said Monday.
The accused minister, according to police, has gone into hiding.
"We have sent out police teams to ascertain his whereabouts and subsequently arrest him," said a senior police official. "But so far we are clueless."
The speaker of region's lawmaking body on Monday said he has granted his permission to police for the lawmaker's arrest, saying they should act according to law.
The police last week in Srinagar, the summer capital, registered a case against Khan after a woman doctor approached them, alleging he made sexual advances towards her inside his office.
The allegations evoked sharp condemnation from various quarters including doctors' community and opposition, following Khan's resign from the ministry.
A non-bailable warrant already stands issued against the Khan.
Meanwhile, leader of opposition Mehbooba Mufti Monday accused government of protecting Khan.
"The government wants to destroy the evidence against Khan and that is the reason why he is not being arrested," Mufti told reporters. "They (government) are out to protect the ex-minister, otherwise how is it possible that he can't be nabbed?"
Reports said Khan's lawyer on Monday filed a bail application to the region's high court.
In 2006, police investigations on complaint of locals opened a lid of a sex ring involving top ministers (politicians), bureaucrats, police and paramilitary officers.
The accused officials were jailed in wake of huge public outcry, however, most of the accused subsequently obtained bail and have resumed their positions in the government.
In 2009, the region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had threatened to resign when the opposition alleged that he was also in the list of those accused of exploiting girls in 2006.
The sexual violence charges in India have come under severe public security following a 2012 gangrape and murder of a student on a moving bus in New Delhi.
