IAF Woman Officer Accuses Senior Officer of Rape, Alleges Mishandling of Probe

Srinagar: A female flying officer of the Indian Air Force has lodged a police complaint against a Wing Commander, accusing him of rape. Following her complaint, an FIR was registered at the Budgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir. Both officers are stationed in Srinagar.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that they are cooperating with local police. “We are aware of the matter and Budgam police have reached out to the IAF in Srinagar. We are fully assisting them,” the IAF said in a statement.

In her complaint, the flying officer has alleged that she has faced harassment, sexual assault and mental torture over the last two years. She detailed an incident from a New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2023, where the Wing Commander allegedly forced her into oral sex after taking her to his room under the pretext of giving her a gift. She claimed that despite resisting, she was assaulted and later threatened with further encounters.

After confiding in two other women officers, she was encouraged to file a formal complaint. Despite an internal investigation being launched, she alleged that the probe was mishandled and biased. The officer claims her requests for leave and a transfer were denied, and that she continues to face social and mental harassment, with her communications being monitored.

The internal committee closed its investigation in May, citing a lack of eyewitnesses, but the flying officer dismissed the conclusion as unjust, stating that sexual assault does not typically occur in the presence of witnesses. She has also accused the authorities of aiding the accused and ignoring her pleas for relief.

The harassment, she said, has severely impacted her mental health, leaving her in constant fear and pushing her to suicidal thoughts.