Srinagar, Feb 24: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought response from state government and status report from Investigation Officer in the death of an 18-year-old girl, who was allegedly forced to commit suicide by exploiters.
According to police investigation, a girl of Panzala Rafiabad in north Kashmir committed suicide and a FIR under section 309 RPC (attempt to suicide) was registered on July 29, 2009 in Panzala police station.
However, family members refuted the police claim. “The victim was forced to commit suicide by three persons,” they alleged.
 Family members of the victim accused police of “suppressing the facts” and registering FIR under 309 RPC instead of 306 RPC (abetment of suicide).
On February 14, the father of the deceased, Habibullah Khan filed a petition before the High Court seeking re-investigation of the case as they alleged there was nexus between police and culprits.
Alleging that life of victim’s family was in danger as police was working at the behest of the culprits, the petitioner prayed before the court to order constitution of a team of officers from Crime Branch headed by Superintendent of Police to carry on with the investigations. 
Petitioner has sought direction to the SHO Panzala to submit case dairy along with the post-mortem report of the deceased before  the High Court.
The petitioner alleged that in 2009 three brothers were extending threats to their daughter to commit illegal acts.
After her denial the family alleged that the brothers obtained her photographs while she was in a marriage ceremony of her relative from a videographer. Petitioner alleged the brothers morphed the photographs and joined her face with the obscene pictures. “The three brothers exploited our daughter to obscene pictures, which forced her to commit suicide,” he said.
Prior to suicide the father of the deceased had also filed a report before the police for alleged threats extended by the brothers. After the death of the girl her mobile was seized by the police and call records showed that the three accused brothers used to blackmail her, the petitioner claimed.
He said, “One of the accused confessed that he had purchased a photograph of the deceased for Rs 500, which was taken in a marriage ceremony.”
He alleged the brothers succeeded in getting the case closed as a case of suicide. He further alleged that the Investigating Officer had suppressed the postmortem report deliberately, which itself indicated that investigation was not fair.
“ The IO deliberately opined that investigation is complete for offence under section-309,” he alleged.
The family members said they went from pillar to post for justice but to no avail. “Even Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla was apprised about the matter but he did not pay any heed,” they alleged.
He said the three brothers being his close relative wanted to exterminate the deceased’s whole family to grab their property. After admitting the petition court of Justice Sunil Hali directed the state government to file objections within three weeks. Besides, court directed the IO to file status report regarding the course of investigation taken in the case.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST