Sopore man says his 9-year-old daughter was murdered, demands thorough probe

Family, neighbours ask police to inquire how a minor girl could end life

Srinagar, July 1: Father of a 9-year-old girl, who was “murdered” last week at her residence in outskirts of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, on Monday, demanded a thorough probe to bring the “real culprits to book” and said that doctors told him that she was “raped,” a charge denied by the concerned block medical officer.

“I got a call at around 1:30 p.m. from my wife who said there has been a tragedy at home as our daughter (name withheld) has been killed by hanging,” father of the girl, a resident of Nathipora Sopore, told GNS.

“I was shocked on hearing it and rushed home. However my daughter had been taken to hospital by then and as soon as I reached there (hospital), I was not allowed initially. When her death was declared, the doctors let me in and they told me she has been raped” the girl’s father claimed.

He added: “On hearing it, I was shocked and on regaining some sense, I urged them to carry out the postmortem.”

He said that he “suspects the involvement of two painters who were working at our home.”

He also accused police of moving at snail’s pace and not doing enough to find out the culprits and bring them to justice.

“We want justice. I want to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao slogan and demand that the real culprits are brought to book,”5 he said while being flanked by the relatives and neighbours.

Sources in the hospital said that a lady doctor broke into tears soon after examining the girl and later made her comments on the formal paper.

However, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Dr Samiullah outrightly rejected the possibility of rape and said that the real cause of the death would be revealed by FSL and other reports which are awaited.

“At the time of death, there was no rape. Final cause of death would be ascertained only after obtaining FSL and histopathological reports from FSL Chandigarh and Government Medical College Srinagar,” BMO Sopore told GNS.

Asked about the reports from hospital sources, he said: “All I can confirm is that at the time of autopsy I was myself present there and there was nothing like rape.”

He said the preliminary investigations suggest that the death occurred due to strangulation and whether it was done by the girl herself or somebody else is a matter of investigation to be conducted by the police.”

SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal told GNS that investigations under 174 CrPc are underway and nobody would be spared if any foul play was found.

“SDPO and SHO concerned are investigating the matter and if any foul play comes to fore, nobody would be spared,” he said. Meanwhile, the locals and the family urged police to investigate how a 9-year-old girl can commit suicide. (GNS)