The general court martial proceedings against an army major, accused of raping a woman and her 12-year-old daughter, began at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, a defence spokesman said in Srinagar.
The court read out five charges against Major Rahman Hussain, including rape and molestation of Aaisha Begum and her daughter.
The major is also charged with entering their house without authorisation, not taking women police along with him during the operation and violating army discipline and conduct.
Major Rahman sought adjournment of the proceedings on the plea that he was not given ample time to prepare for his defence, the spokesman said.
The officer said his defence counsel, Brigadier (retd) M P G Menon, was arriving in Srinagar on Monday to plead his case, the spokesman added.
Major Rahman and his unit allegedly entered the woman's house at Bhadra Payeen in Handwara area of Kupwara district on the night of November 6 and raped the mother and daughter.
Massive protests rocked Handwara when the news spread.
The district administration ordered an inquiry into the incident. The blood samples of the accused and the victims were sent to the Central Forensic Laboratory at Chandigarh for a DNA test, the results of which are awaited.
