Recent reports from various sources, including the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and human rights organizations, have brought to light cases of sexual violence allegedly involving members of the Indian armed forces.
Data from the NCRB reveals that between 2017 and 2022, over 270 rape cases were registered against armed forces personnel. These cases reportedly involve not only members of the armed forces but also police officers and government employees.
The reports highlight that such incidents have occurred both within India and in the disputed region of Kashmir. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have identified sexual violence as a critical human rights issue in these regions.
In 1991, 53 women in Jammu and Kashmir testified before the Chief Justice about sexual assault by armed forces personnel. Another reported incident from the same year involved the sexual assault of between 23 to 100 women during a search operation in Kashmir’s Kunan and Poshpora villages.
The reports also address sexual harassment within the Indian military, with over 1,000 female personnel reportedly affected.
Additionally, cases of sexual exploitation involving Indian peacekeepers abroad have been documented. Some personnel were implicated in sexual exploitation in Congo, and three were sentenced for sexual assault in South Africa.
These reports underscore concerns about accountability and the urgent need to address sexual violence in military contexts.
