Doda, May 29, 2011: A 24-year girl student committed suicide by jumping into Chenab in Pul Doda area on Sunday after she was harassed by a Police official. The deceased was a B.Ed student of Islamia Education and Research Institute Kishtwar. Rahida Banoo daughter of Abdul Rafiq Rather resident of Bhalessa reportedly jumped into river Chenab near Pul Doda after a Police official harassed her, while she was in a tea stall along with his college friend.
Locals said the girl along with a classmate was detained by Pul Doda police station. “She was kept in the concerned police station and her family was informed about her detention. The boy was lodged in lockup and it was believed that the duo had fled their respective residence without informing their parents”, sources revealed.
“My daughter was studying at Kishtwar and was on way to Jammu to fill a form at JU. She was accompanied by her classmate, who hails from Banihal area”, father of the girl Abdul Rafiq said.
He claimed that the police men have treated her badly, which may have forced her to end her life.
According to the reports, both Rahida and Najab Din were heading for home after college vacation and while reaching Pul Doda, both chose to have a cup of tea in nearby tea stall and in the mean time it was said that a police officer SPO entered the hotel and started investigation about the due.
As the per the eye witnesses, the girl reportedly called her father, who tried his best to convey the erring SPO that being as a father he knows his daughter and due to some work, both stopped at Pul Doda.
It was further said that despite request from girl’s father, police beat up Najab Din the friend of the girl accompanying her in front of the people. It was said that despite repeated request by the girl the police officer SPO along with Chowki Officer Pul Doda went on rampage and ruthlessly beat Najab Din.
The eyewitnesses said that after police detain Najab Din, the deceased girl requested the police officer not to tarnish her reputation, but as the cops refused she jumped into the river in front of the public. After the girl jumped into the river Chenab, people launched rescue operation to save the girl, but nothing could be achieved due to strong water currents.
The girl, however, gave a slip to the police and jumped into Chenab. “Her slipper and veil was found from the river bank,” police claimed.
Locals said that the girl was harassed and abused in the police station, which forced her to take the extreme step of ending her life. “How is it possible that the girl could have escaped from the police station”, a local resident said. Agencies