Girl alleges harassment by Army soldiers

SOPORE — A girl from north Kashmir’s Sopore town has alleged that Army soldiers in a bid to shield a ‘notorious’ drug peddler ransacked her house on Tuesday night.

Nighat Bashir, a resident of Seelu Sopore alleged that the ‘notorious’ drug peddler known as Manpala lured her young brother to drugs and when she complained about the accused, the soldiers barged into her house and ransacked it.

Nighat, who according to her has won a gold medal in Karate at Hyderabad, said that her brother has become habitual drug addict from past several days in the company of Manpala while police first arrested him and then released him. “I have taken my brother now to Psychiatric hospital Srinagar for treatment as he had consumed brown sugar,” she said.

“I want to know why this drug peddler was released and why my house was ransacked,” she questioned.

Police narrated a different tale and refuted all her charges, saying neither accused Manpala has been released nor her house was targeted by Army. “It was a routine Cordon in Seelu Sopore last night and you can confirm it from locals,” a senior police officer said.

He said six persons have already been arrested, adding that the lady misused social media and twisted facts, particularly on Facebook.

“The brother of Nighat Bashir namely Basit Bashir of Seelu Sopore took discreetly a cell phone from his home and gave it to Mehrajuddin Mir alias Manpala of Behrampora Rafiabad against some cash,” he said, adding, “Family of Basit claims that Manpala is providing drug to our son against cell phone and against other items and has snatched a gold bracelet as well.”

“Accordingly, sister of Basit namely Nighat Bashir went along with her father to Behrampora to get the cell phone back. At Behrampora, after noticing the accused some heated arguments took place between Manpala and Nighat Bashir, resulting in scuffle between Manpala, Nighat Bashir and her father Bashir Ahmad Dar.”

“Upon this, a formal FIR vide number 65/2020 under Section 354, 379, 323 IPC was registered against Manpala and others. Since there are only few accused nominated in written complaint but during the course of investigation police have identified six more who have been arrested and are in police custody,” the official said.

“Yesterday at around 7:45 PM, Nighat Bashir through social media had informed that her father Bashir Ahmed Dar had suffered a massive heart attack, rushed to SDH Sopore after conducting some tests, he was declared absolutely fit and discharged within half an hour. After reaching home, Night Bashir again took to Facebook and claimed that her cousins were beaten by Army and they have cordoned off their house and search is underway because she had raised voice against drug peddlers.”

The police official said that on confirmation, nothing as such was found. Routine CASO was going on in Seelu and no relative of her was either arrested or beaten. “When contacted, her cousins too declined the accusation made by Nighat Bashir.”

He said that the claim made by the girl that all accused have been released is baseless as all six accused are in custody at Police Station Dangiwacha.