The army court martial has handed down punishment to two troopers for molesting a girl in north Kashmir's Bandipore in June.

The army said that two troopers who had been taken into custody following the announcement of court martial proceedings against them were awarded a rank demotion besides rigorous imprisonment to one and a severe reprimand to the other.

"On June 26, army jawans were accused of house trespass and outraging modesty of a girl in Kunan Baha Gund village, Bandipore," a defence spokesman said.

"Prompt disciplinary action has been taken by army by conducting the court martial of the individuals from October 29 to November 3. Two individuals have been punished by the army by award of severe punishments of reduction in their ranks and rigorous imprisonment to one and severe reprimand to other."

The spokesman said, "The accused persons are presently undergoing sentence in confinement at Bandipore. The swift proceeding and exemplary punishment meted out to the accused indicates army's stand to uphold human rights of Kashmiri awam and not to shield any person found guilty."

He said, "On the other hand a first information report was also lodged by the army against the locals who had taken law into their own hands by publicly beating the two army Jawans. The Bandipore police station is investigating the matter. The army had also identified these individuals and forwarded their names to the Bandipore police station on September 7. However, the charge sheet is yet to be filed against any of the locals."

The two soldiers had reportedly forced their entry into a house in Kunan village of north Kashmir Bandipore district on June 26 this year posing as militants.

The girl had raised hue and cry upon which the local villagers caught hold of them and paraded them naked in the village.