FIR against Kashmir minister for alleged sexual assault

Police in Srinagar Thursday lodged an FIR against a minister for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman -- a doctor, following directions from a local court.

The city's chief judicial magistrate Thursday directed the police to register the first information report under provisions of sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Shabir Ahmad Khan, junior health minister, after the woman filed a complaint against him.

The FIR against Khan, a Congress minister in the state coalition government, was lodged at the Shaheed Gunj police station in the city.

Sources close to the victim said she was trying to lodge an FIR against the minister for the last few days, but it was only after the court's direction that the police registered her complaint.

Section 509 of the criminal penal code pertains to "a word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman", and if proved the guilty can be imprisoned for a term which may extend to one year.

Whereas section 354 pertains to assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

Under this section, the guilty can be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.