J&K minister resigns over sexual assault allegations

Shabir Ahmad Khan, the minister who was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, tendered his resignation.

Zee Media Bureau

Srinagar: Shabir Ahmad Khan, the minister who was booked on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, tendered his resignation on Friday. His resignation followed demands from various political groups and doctors in Kashmir Valley. Earlier in the day, the ruling National Conference and its ally in the state, Congress, had said action should be taken against Khan if the molestation charges against him are found to be true. The city`s chief judicial magistrate had on Thursday directed the police in Srinagar to register the first information report under provisions of Sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against 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. As per the complaint, Khan allegedly tried to make advances towards the woman and molest her when she visited his office in the state secretariat here on January 28. According to PTI, the woman claimed she was called by the Minister`s aide to visit the secretariat office. On reaching the office, the woman claimed she was asked to see the minister. She said she was then asked to make kahwa (Kashmiri tea). The woman said she felt uncomfortable and quickly left the room after the minister allegedly tried to molest her. 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. (With Agency inputs)