Srinagar: In yet another development in the alleged molestation case, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday night arrested Hilal Ahmed Bandey, one of the two accused named by a minor girl from Handwara town.
The arrest comes two days after the girl, who was initially alleged to have been molested by an Army soldier, told a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) that no soldier misbehaved with her.
Narrating the incident, the girl said, “No soldier or anyone entered the toilet when she was inside. But when she came out, two local boys, one of whom was wearing a school uniform created a scene by snatching her bag and shouting at her."
Bandey is accused of manhandling the girl on April 12 while she was stepping out of a public restroom in Handwara town.
Kashmir has been witnessing huge protests since past few days after rumours of the girl having molested by an Army jawan spread across the Valley. Huge protests erupted last Tuesday after the rumours spread. People in large numbers gathered and attacked the Army bunker in Handwara chowk. They assaulted the personnel deployed there, ransacked the bunker and attempted to set the bunker on fire.
In total, five civilians have been killed in Kashmir's Kupwara district following violent protests after the rumours spread.
The J&K government had on Monday ordered a probe by Additional District Magistrate into the firing incident of April 12 in Handwara in which three civilians were killed.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to the people to help restore peace and promised severe punishment to those involved in the violence in Handwara and Kupwara that left five people dead.
