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Policemen Slapped Me, Forced Me To Lie, Says Handwara Teen Who Complained Of Molestation

Policemen Slapped Me, Forced Me To Lie, Says Handwara Teen Who Complained Of Molestation
SRINAGAR, INDIA - APRIL 21: Scores of students from Government Degree College in Handwara march through the town to protest against the recent killing of Nayeem Qadir by forces, on April 21, 2016 in Srinagar, India. Nayeem was the first cricketer selected for under-19 cricket coaching camp from district Kupwara. Two youths, including a budding cricketer, were killed on Tuesday in Handwara, about 85 km from Srinagar, when the army opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob which was protesting against the alleged molestation of a girl by some of its personnel. (Photo by Waseem Andrabi/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
SRINAGAR, INDIA - APRIL 21: Scores of students from Government Degree College in Handwara march through the town to protest against the recent killing of Nayeem Qadir by forces, on April 21, 2016 in Srinagar, India. Nayeem was the first cricketer selected for under-19 cricket coaching camp from district Kupwara. Two youths, including a budding cricketer, were killed on Tuesday in Handwara, about 85 km from Srinagar, when the army opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob which was protesting against the alleged molestation of a girl by some of its personnel. (Photo by Waseem Andrabi/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) -- In a major twist in the Handwara molestation case, a girl whose complaint of molestation led to protests and firing in the region, said on Monday she had been forced to record a false statement while in custody and had also been abused.

"They (policemen) spoke to me nicely so I narrated the whole incident to them. After which they told me not to tell the real story to anyone. And added that if I divulged anything, then my family and me might land in trouble. They threatened our lives. I told them that to lie is wrong and I won't lie. There and then, one of the three policemen got up and slapped me and forced me to lie. I retaliated for a while and then I succumbed to their pressure and changed my statement," said the victim.

"The police misbehaved with me, nobody came forward to help. While I was sitting at the police station, several policemen abused me and went away. After a long time, a woman police constable took me to a room and left after a while. The three policemen came into the room with their faces covered," she added.

Handwara witnessed massive clashes between the police and locals on April 12 after the news of a girl being molested by an army soldier spread. The area was under curfew for a week.

Five people were killed in firing by security forces during the protests. But in a controversial video shot inside a police station, the girl had denied the molestation allegation. The girl has now changed her statement saying she was under pressure.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.