Handwara Case : Plea in High Court and Protest on Roads of valley  

 After an alleged molestation bid with a student in Handwara too new turn when Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed the police to facilitate a meeting of the girl and her father with her mother''s counsel. High Court sought the state government''s response on a PIL seeking a high level judicial inquiry into the alleged molestation incident in Handwara and subsequent violence. On the other hand Scores of students staged a demonstration in Srinagar demanding release of the girl who is at the centre of the Handwara molestation row in which five civilians were killed during violent protests last week. The protest was organised by All India Students'' Association, Carrying placards, the students staged the protest at Press Enclave alleging that the girl had been “illegally” detained along with her family members. Some of the placards read “the minor girl needs our support not our criticism”, “end denial of legal assistance to her”, “end surveillance and control over the movement of the girl and her family” and “end character assassination of the girl”. They also demanded action against those responsible for the killing of five persons.
A division bench of the High court issued notice to the state government, seeking its response by April 26, the next date of hearing. Meanwhile, a single bench of the court, hearing a plea filed by the mother of the girl against her alleged “illegal detention”, directed that the petition be clubbed with the PIL being heard by the division bench. On the other hand police submitted its status report including the statement of the alleged victim recorded before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Handwara last week. The girl had denied that she was molested by a soldier. The mother of the victim had filed a petition before the High Court last week, seeking release of her daughter, husband and sister who police said were in ''protective'' police custody.