High Court queries J-K police on 'detention' of girl, kin in Handwara

Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Saturday directed the police to cite the law under which they have detained the girl, who was allegedly molested by a soldier in Handwara on Tuesday which led to violent protests resulting in the death of five persons. Taja Begum, mother of the 16-year-old girl, filed a petition before the High Court today seeking release of her daughter and two other relatives from “illegal detention” of police, counsel for petitioner Parvaiz Imroz said. Besides issuing notice to the state, Justice M H Attar directed the Superintendent of Police Handwara and SHO of the concerned police station to tell the court under which law they have detained the minor girl, her father and aunt since the incident on April 12, Imroz said. He said the court also directed the police to present the girl before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Handwara for recording of statement. “The court has also said that father and aunt of the girl cannot be forced to appear before print or electronic media,” Imroz said. He said the case has been listed for next hearing on April 20. In her petition, Taja Begum, through the counsel, pleaded that her daughter, husband and sister have been kept in illegal detention in violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Imroz also submitted before the court that the petitioner apprehends that the life of her minor daughter, husband and sister is in jeopardy. Violent protests rocked north Kashmir Handwara town on Tuesday following alleged molestation of the girl by a soldier. Three persons were killed in security forces firing on protesters that day. Another youth was killed on Wednesday at Drugmulla during protests against the earlier killings while another youth was killed during similar protests in Nathnusa area of Kupwara yesterday. The girl, however, denied that she was molested. The Army released a video of her purported statement in theis regard. The mother of the girl today claimed that she was pressurised into giving the video statement.