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Authenticity of The Handwara Girl Video Is Being Questioned

Handwara has been witnessing a major unrest since 12 April over allegations of an Armyman molesting a schoolgirl.

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A report by Kashmiri Observer has questioned the authenticity of the video of the minor girl allegedly molested by an Indian army personnel.

The video has been used by the Army to dismiss allegations of molestation. However questions pertaining to the source of the video and its sharing on social media platforms remain unanswered.

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A transcription of the video reads as follows:

Male voice: You are like my daughter.

Another male voice: Please tell us what happened.

Girl: Sir, When I left from the school, I was passing by it (doesn’t mention the name of the place). I handed my bag to a friend and went inside the washroom (bathroom). As soon as I came out of the washroom, I took my bag from my friend. Suddenly, a boy grabbed my bag and slapped me.

Male Voice: Was he a civilian?

Girl: Yes sir, he was wearing a uniform. He slapped me and said, ‘have Kashmiris died?’ I raised my voice and asked him what do you mean? In the meantime, a lot of boys assembled at the scene. He told me to come to police station. There was an police officer at the scene.

Male voice: He brought you…(interrupted)

Girl: No, I told him that I will go to police station with the police officer and give back my bag. He refused to handover my bag and started abusing me verbally. I didn’t see anyone clearly.

There was Hilal bhai (Someone known) in the crowd. He slapped me and asked me what were you doing here? I told him Hilal Bhai, you know me and my family. Are you asking me the same thing?

He started asking me questions. They had already discussed it among themselves. All of them asked me different things.

Later, I was beaten by the boy. He even followed me to this place. He wouldn’t even leave my bag. Then Shafi uncle intervened and and asked the boy to leave it. He was instigating other boys as well.

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As the veracity of the video continues to remain sketchy, new reports claim that the alleged molestation victim and her father have been detained by the police. The detention, according to J&K Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a Kashmiri human rights body, has been brought about ‘to make the victim withdraw her allegation under duress.’

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Handwara in Kashmir has been at the centre of a major unrest since Tuesday, 12 April when a local school-girl accused an Indian army personnel of molesting her. Soon the Indian army base was surrounded by a stone-pelting crowd. The clash between the Army and locals led to four casualties. The area has been under curfew ever since.

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

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