Photo: Aman Farooq/GK
The
Handwara schoolgirl who was allegedly molested by an army soldier on
Tuesday, the incident that led to four killings by security forces, is
in ‘preventive custody’ along with her father, even as a rights group
has demanded their immediate release.
On Tuesday, a video of the minor girl was released, ostensibly
exonerating the accused soldier of molestation charges. The identity of
the victim was revealed in the video that appears to have been recorded
by police and then widely circulated through social networking sites,
before army released it officially the next day.
Since the video was released, media was looking for the victim to
check the veracity of the statement. But the news about the girl still
being in police custody has given rise to more questions about the
video, with a civil society group saying that the detention of the
victim confirms that the State doesn’t want truth to come out.
“She has been kept in preventive custody,” Deputy Inspector General
of Police, north Kashmir, Uttam Chand told Greater Kashmir. “The family
has approached us for protection.” The senior police officer said that
parents are accompanying the girl. “We can’t deny protection to somebody
who has threat,” the DIG added.
However, the family has told JK Coalition of Civil Society that the
girl has been kept in police custody since the incident happened. Last
night, they said, at around 1 a.m, the father of the victim was called
to the Handwara police station. He was accompanied by his brother. Since
then his whereabouts are not known. The family has been denied access
to both the minor girl and her father, they added.
A statement released by JKCCS, a rights group, said that the family
of the victim has appealed for immediate release of the minor girl and
the father of the victim. They have also sought legal assistance. “The
State under the garb of law and order is ensuring that all access to the
family of the victim is denied so as to ensure protection to the armed
forces personnel and to further distract attention from the crimes that
have been committed – from the sexual assault to the killings,” reads a
statement of JKCCS.
“Any suggestion that the State is seeking to protect the minor girl
and her family must be rejected in the circumstances of this case and
the actions of the police. Any protection, if necessary, must be
provided at the residence of the victim and not at the police station,”
it added.
The rights group has demanded immediate release of the minor girl
and her father. It said that the family should be allowed access to
legal counsel. “Government of Jammu and Kashmir must allow immediate and
unhindered access for the legal counsel team of JKCCS to the victim and
her family,” said the statement.
JKCCS has alleged that the detention of the minor girl and her
father are outside the powers of the State and appears to be an attempt
to further pressurize the family to withdraw all allegations against the
armed forces. “Further, the manner in which the video has been recorded
and then circulated is a gross violation of the special protections
afforded to minors particularly during investigation of sexual assault
cases. The actions of the police and the army would necessarily invite
criminal prosecution if investigated,” the statement added.