New Delhi: Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari on Tuesday said that the banned two-finger test was not done on the female officer who alleged that she was raped by a colleague at the Coimbatore Air Force College.
The officer, in the FIR, not only detailed her claims of being assaulted by Flight Lieutenant Amitesh Harmukh on September 10 but also levelled grave allegations against Indian Air Force (IAF) authorities, saying she was intimidated to withdraw her formal complaint and that she was subjected to the two-finger test.
The ‘per vaginal’ or two-finger test is an outlawed practice through which a doctor inserts two fingers into a woman’s vagina to test it for the presence of the hymen and the vagina’s laxity. The Supreme Court had declared the practice unconstitutional, adding that it violates the survivor’s privacy. Critics also say the practice is unscientific and ascertaining a woman’s sexual history has nothing to do with allegations of sexual assault.
“No two finger test was done…Disciplinary action will be taken based on the report of inquiry,” the IAF chief was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“The IAF law is very strict on any such incident… The two-finger test conducted on a woman officer is misreported. No, two-finger test was not done. We’re well aware of the rules and all due action would be taken,” he said, according to The News Minute.
The woman said that she was forced to go to the police after IAF authorities pressured her to withdraw the complaint. Harmukh was arrested by the police on September 26 and was charged with sexual assault. However, the case was handed over to the IAF for a court-martial, after the Additional Mahila Court in Chennai directed the police to do so. The IAF had filed a petition seeking his transfer citing jurisdiction since Harmukh is a serving officer.
The transfer of the case has led to concerns about transparency but also fairness, considering the woman’s allegations against IAF authorities.
In a statement last Thursday, the National Commission for Women raised the issue with the IAF, saying it was ”utterly disappointed”, condemning the IAF doctors for conducting the two-finger test on the victim.