‘Officials in Police Station said recording won’t be leaked, they have made me vulnerable’

SHABIR IBN YUSUF
Srinagar


Police shot my video by deception: Handwara girl

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Breaking her silence, the Handwara molestation victim girl has alleged that she has been made vulnerable by police by deceiving and recording her video that went viral on Internet. The 16-year old student continues to remain in police custody.
“She was very disturbed when I met her yesterday,” Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, Chairperson of J&K State Women’s Commission (SWC) told Greater Kashmir. Mehjoor met her on Friday after police brought the girl from Zachaldara Handwara to Srinagar.
The girl, according to Mehjoor, alleged that she was kept in dark while the video was shot in Police Station Handwara.
Mehjoor said that the girl told her that police officials shot the video after giving assurance that it won’t be leaked. “The girl said she has been vulnerable. She said her face is now known to all,” Mehjoor said adding that what has happened in Police Station has visibly disturbed the girl. “The girl is not totally happy with that.”
Saying that she is in touch with the victim’s family, Chairperson SWC said that the matter has been taken up with police. “I have asked Police to explain all this. They have assured me all cooperation,” Mehjoor said adding that the girl did not reveal anything about the incident. “She was disturbed. She will be coming to my office after three-four days and will talk about the incident.”
Mehjoor said that the girl’s father has requested for police assistance. “The fact is that her father told me that he has asked for police assistance, but not security,” Mehjoor said adding that family has been provided with police assistance.
Mehjoor said that the girl wants to continue her studies that too in same Handwara school. “We assured her that she will be admitted in any school, anywhere so that she continues her studies,” she added.
The girl’s alleged molestation by an army soldier on April 12 evoked strong protests in Handwara. During the protests army opened fire and killed two youth and a 53 year old woman. Later in subsequent protests against the killings two more youth were killed. One among them was killed in army firing and another in police action.
“The girl is in preventive police custody,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir, Uttam Chand, told Greater Kashmir. He said that police is following the court directions in letter and spirit. “Anybody is free to meet her.”
The DIG said that the family has requested them for security. “Besides the demand of security by family, we too have apprehensions. We have provided them security cover,” the senior police officer said.
Sources in police said that the girl has been kept at a relative’s house in Zachaldara area of Handwara. The house, they said, is being guarded by a police column. “No outsider is allowed to meet her,” sources said.
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/front-page/police-shot-my-video-by-deception-handwara-girl/215650.html