Kishtwar, July 13: Protestors ransacked police station Padder and thrashed four officials including, Station House Officer and Naib-Tehsildar of the area, after two girls went missing following their detention and alleged harassment by the police on Tuesday.
 Reports say that two girls (named withheld) were detained by the police along with a local boy after allegedly being found in objectionable condition at Gulabgarh area, headquarter of Padder tehsil, late last evening.
 The girls, as per the family members, were released by the police after being subjected to harassment and humiliation. “Both did not return home and it was later learnt that they have jumped in Chenab River”, a local resident alleged adding, their slippers and some other belongings had been found from the river bank.
 Police on the other hand claimed that there was no confirmation of their suicide, but the duo was missing from late last night.
 However, police on the other hand claimed that the duo was released immediately after their detention. “They went back to their homes, where they were reprimanded by their families”, a police officer said adding, “They both left the house and are missing since then”.
 The situation turned ugly turn when the news spread in the area, this morning. A large number of people took to street and laid siege of the police station Padder. Shouting slogans against the police, the angry mob ransacked the office furniture of the police station and damaged at least two vehicles.
 Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station, Farooq Ahmed Wani, was attacked by the mob when he allegedly tried to escape from the backdoor of his retiring room. A revenue officer (Naib Tehsildar) was given severe thrashing after he tried to intervene. Eyewitnesses said two cops were also beaten up after they opened fire in air to disperse the mob.
 Senior civil and police officials, including DC, SP and ASP Kisthwar rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The protests continued till late this evening as the locals are demanding stern action against the policemen, who allegedly subjected the girls to humiliation. “The teenager girls were sitting on the river bank when they were picked up by the police, without any justification”, a local resident alleged adding, “They could not bare the humiliation and finally ended their lives by jumping in the river”.
 DIG Doda-Udhampur Range Munish Kumar Sinha, who was on way to Padder, however said the girls were missing and there was no confirmation of their death. “We have called a dog squad from Jammu to help the police to find the missing girl”, he said adding, the senior police officers were camping in the area and he was also visiting Gulabgarh to take stock of the situation.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST