A girl from Handwara, who was at the center of a controversy last month, had alleged now that, an army soldier molested her, contradicting her previously recorded judicial statement.

The girl further said that, she had denied the allegations against the soldier under coercion by Jammu and Kashmir police.

The 16 year old girl, last month, had deposed before a civil court under 164 CrPC at Handwara and denied that a soldier sexually assaulted her. She had instead said that, she was harassed and beat up by a group of local boys, while she stopped to use a public washroom on her way back from school. The court, following her denial, had ordered not to present her before media.

A civil society group, however, on Monday, brought the woman to Srinagar to address a press conference. The girl’s parents had approached the state high court for her release from police custody, who removed her security cover, two days ago.  

Addressing a press conference, the girl said, “Police officials forced me to record the statement and circulated that on the Internet. They threatened me not to change my statement before the District Magistrate to save myself and my family.”

The girl alleged that, the police put her at stake by circulating the video, to save the army personnel. “The video was shot by a top police official of the district. He shot my video forcefully and under the pretext that he won't circulate it, especially to the media but later he did.”

Narrating the incident, she said, “As soon as I entered the washroom, an army man attempted to molest me. When he held my hand, I shouted and the locals gathered outside the public convenience. I recognized a policeman who began to drag me to the Handwara police station. I asked him to allow me to go to my house. But, he didn't leave me, abused me and took me directly to the Handwara police station.”

She said that she was produced before a Munshi. “The behaviour of police personnel towards me was very aggressive. The police personnel were abusive and threatening me. I was frightened,”she alleged.

"The police official asked my name but I didn't respond. The Munshi then searched my bag and recorded my name from my schoolbooks. He also asked my father's name, which I told them. The Munshi also took away my phone even though I said I wanted to contact my family members. He refused to return the phone," she alleged.

“A sub-inspector abused me. He came into the room. I noticed his name on his nameplate. He spat on me and left." She said that her family was not informed that she had been taken to a police station. "I faced humiliation at the hands of policemen. I was harassed by police officials while remaining under illegal detention," the girl further added.

Not stopping there, the minor girl even accused Nayeema Mahjoor, Chairperson of Woman's Rights Commission of 'siding with the police.'

Calling the youths her brothers, who were killed in protest that erupted in Kupwara after the incident, the teary eyed girl said, “At a time when my brothers sacrificed their lives for my safety, why should I flee from the spot to fight against the person who molested me?”

The victim had demanded an FIR registration against the Army soldier for "sexual" assault and against the police official for recording her video and circulating it, without concealing her identity.

The alleged molestation had sparked violent protests in north Kashmir that left five civilians including a woman dead last month.

By Phani Ch