When #MeToo is taking over all the section in India, exposing sexual predators on Social Media. Jammu Kashmir couldn’t remain away from allegations. A list of harassment cases surfaced which includes more than dozen names from Media to public Personalities.

 

Kashmir Women's Collective, took the initiative and documented the stories of harassment. These stories range from abuse during childhood by a paternal aunt to the editor of Kashmir Walla Magazine, for forcing a woman to kiss him.

 

Kashmir Women's Collective has compiled a Google document, where different women shared their horrific stories anonymously. The victims wished to remain anonymous for their own safety.

 

 

Gowher Geelani, Political Analyst

Fahad Shah, Journalist, Editor of Kashmir Walla Magazine

Javid Trali, political worker

Masood Muntazar, DD Anchor

Sameer Yasir, Lecturer Peace and Conflict, Islamic University of Science and Technology

Hakim Shaukat Ali, Ministry of Rural Development

Ironically few names are the champions of Feminism & Liberal world. Read all compiled cases:

 

Occupation: Political Analyst 

 

 

 

Anonymous asked him for help once and after that, he started sending her weird messages and started random calling. She was so uncomfortable because of him. She stated the whole experience as "Since there's a #metoo revolution going on, it's pertinent to mention the abusers of positions and power that lurch on social media". Gowher Geelani, a renowned journalist and a columnist, married with kids, is known to hide this fact and constantly try to lure girls as old as 20. "While he's not writing, he's chatting up with young females and flirting with girls his daughter's age at one occasion he asked me to meet him in private. The saddest part is when a group of Kashmiri women sit down and chat the recurring name that pops up is that of Gowher Geelani". Anonymous further says we want to highlight it with anonymity because the society is so patriarchal that they will shame us for talking to men especially on chat.

He did the same thing to another girl and acted like a friend with evil intentions. He used to call her, but she never responded. Anonymous2 said, "The conversation around sexual harassment brings back all the terrible memories of when I have been at the receiving end and not been able to say a single word, and I still think if it was me, as in if I did something to invite such behaviour".

He also harassed another girl. Anonymous 3 said, “Gowher kept messaging me asking to meet every now and then. Plus, would send random Shayari

Anonymous 4 also testifies Gowher’s behaviour by adding “Gowher Geelani has been sending messages to me too. Shaer o shayri along with insisting on meeting”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Editor of Kashmir Walla Magazine already has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Though he has denied tendered an unconditional apology to the victims. However, this is not going to help him anyway. We are going to share a story of another victim which will testify that all the allegations cannot be shut down as ‘ revenge for an ex ‘, and he cannot just get away. This incident happened on 26 April 2017. The anonymous shared what happened to her as:

 

"I'd never heard the name Fahad Shah nor met the person before that evening. It is probably the worst set of coincidences and probabilities that resulted in me ending up sharing that space with Fahad. Of course, there were other people there too, but no one was creepy or acted disturbingly. Let me correct that...it wasn't scary it was outright offensive.

 

I was in the kitchen doing dishes when I decided to go to the room to check on my friend who was sleeping. I found him there lurking around, and I just found it weird. Most people had left, and it was pretty later, so I expected him and Shahid to either go or settle down. But that apparently wasn't the case.

 

After I was done checking on my friend, he held my hand and asked me for a kiss. I was taken aback by request and said no. Initially, I was polite about it and laughed it off just because it sounded so bizarre. Despite having been in the city with a lousy reputation Delhi for so long, I'd never come across such brazenness and wasn't sure if he was serious. But then the pestering continued. The request became more persistent, and I just kept on saying "no! no". With each "no" I became angrier.

 

But for someone who seems to be habitual with his offences and doesn't understand the concept of "no", he really became pushy. He dragged me into the bathroom and kept on saying "just one kiss, just one kiss". Thankfully, I was strong enough to be able to push him off nice and hard...I think he hit himself against the wall which gave me enough time to open the door and get.

 

I was pissed off but more than that I was actually scared. And so, though I left the room cursing, I rushed into the adjacent room and locked myself in.

 

When I was finally able to get in touch with Fahad after two days I believe (I was the one who reached out demanding an apology) I realised that he would send text messages from different numbers. Not the number I was calling on and texting him on. I was angry and hurt. I know he knew what he had done, and I knew he was trying to wiggle out without an apology. And so, I made sure that I text him while recounting all the details of what he was guilty of. I barely got admission and an apology. Moreover, he didn't want to put it in writing, he was eager to be me on call. I, of course, didn't want to hear this beasts voice. I just wanted to punch him.

 

This, it later hit me, was witnessed by Shahid who at the time was in the living room. While Fahad ran away to Srinagar the next day, Shahid would reach out to me and try to pacify me. "Let it be"..." talk to your friend". It then became into something more persuasive... he took me out for dinner and kept on rambling about how we should forgive Fahad, that it was an honest mistake and that we should let it go. He did also bad-mouth Fahad, but it seems it was just an attempt to come across as a well-wisher even though he wasn't. Finally, it reached to the point where he would constantly beg me to meet him just to ensure that I wouldn't file a case against Fahad; a case against Fahad would mean that he too would be named. He began threatening me with messages where he would say that he'll commit suicide or that he was depressed. I was part amused and part angry - why is a man who saw it all happen more upset than the woman who got dragged by a guy? Eventually, I just blocked him because I realized, albeit a bit too late, that he wasn't there to help me but was there to help his friend get away with a heinous crime.

 

Fahad can claim that it is a witch-hunt all they want. But the truth remains that I never knew the person till that day...and after that day I will always remember him. After being contacted by girls who've studied with him at SOAS (and not just Indians) and girls from Kashmir who've been in journalism or similar circles it is apparent that it isn't his first time and it wasn't his last time either. His patterns are the same. He is forceful, doesn't back down despite repeated "no's and likes to paint himself as a victim.

 

Can he claim that he was dating every woman who's made those allegations against him? Can he convincingly explain why multiple women made such severe charges against him? No! The comments on his posts and tweet (which he claims to be an apology but is nothing short of an attempt to portray himself as a victim) show that there are fewer people who believe him and more who've called him out. And there is the reason for that; the reason is his actions.

 

 

There are two cases of sexual harassment against Masood Muntazar. He harassed co-workers while working there. The Anonymous 1 recalled her wounding memories as:

 

I was perusing my masters when I heard from some friends that Doordarshan is starting a new show and are looking for some fresh faces. I went to the station and later on the qualified audition as well. I began hosting Good Morning JK and was paired with Masood Muntazir. Initially, he pretended to be nice, and soon I got to know his intentions. He said I am beautiful and intelligent and no one can do a live show with such confidence etc. After the show would end, I used to rush to university, and one day he said that he is taking the same route and can drop me. I denied and told my friends to wait for me, and they must be waiting. He took my phone from the table and said dial them it's just a matter of one call. While driving, he started praising me a lot and finally said he likes me. I started maintaining distances onwards and spoke to him only during the show and explicitly told him not to talk to me even after our professional duties are over. This annoyed and I was adamant that I need to carry on with work. When he was not able to break my spirit, he did such a dirty trick that left me trembling and in shock. One day after the show was over I was working on a story for the campus magazine. There were 5-7 people, and I left my laptop on the table and went to wash my face. He had plugged in his pen drive and copied all of my pictures. He started sending me those pictures and threatened me that he can do anything now. I had no option but to change my number, deactivate my social media accounts, leave the show and run away to Jammu for two months. My dad was anyways not supporting me to join the media industry, and this incident just shook me inside and out.

 

The similar kind of experience shared by another victim testifies Masood Muntazar’s unethical work behaviour.

 

"With Masood Muntazar, I was hosting a show in DD on Sundays. I was in college those days. He must have been in his 40s. He made me very uncomfortable. He would say you are beautiful and intelligent but the way he looked at me, I didn't like it. I was 21. I once was writing something, and my pen stopped working. I tried to scribble harder. It was in DD studio. He held my right hand and made me write, I got distraught. He later gave me his pen. I was just sad, I didn't have words to say or put anything into perspective. Later he said I can keep his pen. I tried my best to return, but my female producer of the show said, badoun ki disrespect nahi kartey. This confused me further. If he's bada if he's to be respected- then what was that which I felt. It created self-doubt. I tried to tell myself that I overthink. He would still do lil things which upset me. Silly comments on what I wore, on the way I pronounced words etc. Finally, he told me, in our area, girls marry when they are my age. Will I marry him? I cried that day. I had a choice to leave the show, but I came back next Sunday and told him that he should tell the female producer what he told me, she was older, my mom's age then. He said it is a secret feeling he had and he won't share with others".

 

 

 

A woman shared her experience of sexual harassment in college as; “We had a prof at college.

I once talked to him about the work I do. He helped me in getting my admission done to a subject through which he got my number. Later he called me hundreds of times and texted on WhatsApp". He also asked me to meet him outside the college. Subsequently, I confronted him at college to which he shamed me and said to me that I was once interested in him. He slut-shamed me there. And believe me, it was tough to confront. I almost lost my college admission. On Eid Eve he asked me to share my picture of "Eid dress" in his words to see how I look. She further added, most of the times the offender is triple your age as they know people won't question you based on our culture of respecting elders.

 

 

Another girl anonymously reported the culture of sexual harassment in Kashmir Media Industry as:

Sometime back, a friend of mine and I were discussing certain men in Kashmir who we have heard in whispers of having done the sexual harassment with co-workers. There is a culture of brotherhood between writers/journalists etc. in Kashmir. They hide each other's mistake, cover them up. The victim, in the end, is a woman who is unaware of the man's reputation. I spent like half an afternoon with another group of people the next day, they all seemed nice. When I got back, I did feel discomfort at certain things. One of them said but just brushed it off. In Delhi, I started seeing posts that he is known for sleeping with many young girls, tourists, on the pretext of love and marriage. One of the had made an angry account against him. He started defending himself in Instagram stories, and everyone took it to be a jilted lover's anger on the woman's part. But somewhere, I felt that she was not lying because the behaviour she mentioned was exactly what I observed. I keep thinking thank God I met him in a group.

 

 

 

Sexual Harassment at workplaces is a very casual thing in Kashmir because of the lack of accountability. Our last case, for now, is shared by an anonymous. People should bear in mind it while reading all these cases that it is not always as easy to recall all these memories. She shared her hurtful memories as:

 

In my first job my boss Hakim Shaukat Ali, a retired engineer, who had been re-employed by the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI, harassed me repeatedly and systematically. Would pass remarks and try to get me alone in a room. Somehow, I always avoided it by making excuses. On a field trip to Gurez, he was in the same car as us two girls and two other men. He touched me inappropriately. I was too shocked to say anything but just changed my seat in the car. For this, he stopped my salary, took out a bunch of explanations to which I replied. Eventually, I filed a legal notice against him asking why I should not take him to court for stopping my salary (as this constituted a breach of contract) He sent the salary the very next day, and I left the job.

 

 

 

I have a confession too. Nasir Lone, an officer, tried to molest me in his office. He called me to his office. An official was with me. He sent the other man in the office away. He stood up from his chair and tried to kiss me forcefully. I pushed him back, slapped him but was trembling and left. He was saying, I love you in return as if saying this statement is a justification for this behaviour. Apparently, he didn't like me, he barely knew me and wanted me to be quiet by hearing this. I forgot my phone and bag in his office in anxiety. He had called other officials and me for some work. When my official went to the office and didn't see me there but my bag and phone. He took it and got it to my place. I took an auto to home and locked myself in a room. Told my neighbour to pay the auto as I had forgotten my wallet. My car was left at the head office too. I sent my brother later to get it. This officer used to be super lovely and pally with me. I was new and thought that he is just friendly, but as we women have the right instinct, I used to take some subordinate with me whenever I would go to a senior's office. I used to think that I am firm, but this incident shook me.

I shared with a close friend who suggested not to report as people will just make gossip and I am a fresher anyway. I used to wonder, how about the female clerks at his own office, are all of them silently facing this? He was very friendly with them too; this incident has left a deep impression on my mind.

I tried to recall any such conversation or messages that gave him any vibe from me, but I couldn't find anything. I could not believe myself. I was angry with myself for my inability to discuss it with anyone. I release myself of the fear tonight. This confession is giving me strength. Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes people crib by saying Oh why do you share about it now tab kuch kyu nhi kia and another BS. People usually think that okay you are strong and you might not have faced such a thing in life because people won't dare do such a word with you. I was 8 perhaps 7 years old when I encountered all this. We have a neighbour (who now has a daughter and Allah bless her and protect her), he asked me to sit on his lap and touch and feel his thing, I don't remember more about that day but how I ran home crying and loudly saying I will tell your sister what you did. He still gives that evil smirk whenever I walk from our old house downtown. In teens, we saw how boys used to grab our skirts and ask what we wore inside. Later after passing 10th, I witnessed girls being molested in buses, touched and poked in a very wrong way.

It happened to me also, older man brushing themselves on us, and flashing.

In one manner or other Man in this society raped our conscious, innocence and self-respect.

 

 

 

 

My brother and I were travelling to Delhi via Chandigarh on a bus back in 1999. When seats were still filling a group of youngsters having beer cans in their hands boarded the bus. My brother ensured none of them sits on nearby benches. Finally, apparently, a decent guy sat on the seat behind us window one. As the night passed, everyone slept, I suddenly woke up to feel a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged, and he removed the hand after some time he again put his hand on my arm and shoulder. I was terrified. I thought if I raise an alarm my brother will enter into a scuffle he is alone, and all others will take the Hindu guys side. I kept quiet. When he again put his hand on my arm, I caught hold of his hand and squeezed and turned it so hard that he did not put it back. I also learnt that day that it is not dressed, being drunk or not, neither situations nor provocations. If a man wants to do it, he does it, fully aware that it will have no consequences. He knows that society will punish the woman instead and that male reputation is renewable, and women are not. And women are brave to have spoken up against their molesters, it gives courage to other women.

 

 

 

 

We, women, are stronger than what we imagine. We live with volcanoes inside. Many men have harassed and molested me, but during childhood, my abuser was my own paternal aunt, who recently performer hajj, used my hand to caress her genitals. I was 4-5 and would sleep next to her some days when my parents were busy in their petty fights. She would ask me to put my hand in her pyjamas and then touch her private parts, she would kiss me. And she would beat me in the absence of my parents which made me live in fear. I was petrified of her. I have always hated her but never been able to tell my parents or confront her. Not even my mother. Though I was a child, then I still remember the incidents. Child sexual abuse is real, and education about it is a must. We need to stop living in denial.

 

 

 

 

The victim narrates, “I was abused by my servant for 13 years. He actually saw me come into this world. For 13 years he would rape and molest me. This further went on to a family member raping me. I clearly still remember that man holding my 5-year-old body up and getting inside me. After this abuse, I was further abused by my uncle who constantly tried to molest me".