A minor girl from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district has been kidnapped, her family alleged, and has not been traced even after 25 days.
“Our 17-year-old girl was kidnapped by Vijay Kumar on June 8 and has been missing since then,” Qasim Malik, a relative of the minor girl, told The Kashmir Walla.
As per the certificate of District Institute of Education and Training, the date of birth of the girl is 25 February 2004 - making her eight months short of 18.
Malik said the family registered a complaint at Billawar Police station on June 9. “It has been 25 days since she has gone missing,” said Malik.
“Earlier in January this year she was kidnapped by Kumar and was traced by police within 4 to 5 days from Himachal Pradesh and Kumar was released on bail after some days,” Malik said.
Afzal Beigh, the girl’s father, also accused Kumar of abducting the girl.
The missing minor girl and Kumar, who has been accused by the family of abducting the girl, are from Macssedi village of Kathua.
Ramesh Chander Kotwal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Kathua district, however denied that the girl has been kidnapped.
“Nobody has kidnapped anyone,” the officer said. “They (family of the girl) create controversy deliberately. In this case the same girl also went missing for three months and then police traced her and handed over to
family.”
Kotwal continued: “A case of kidnapping has been registered as she is a minor and the person they have been alleging of kidnapping her has been called to Billawar. We have interrogated him and prima facie, nothing has come out. We are working on it and investigation is going on with dedication” said Kotwal.
On delay in tracing the girl, Kotwal said: “as they say she does not have a mobile phone that technically helps us to trace people, that is why it is taking time to trace her.”
Meanwhile, Jammu based activist Waqar H Bhatti demanded serious investigation into the matter.
