AGRA: A week after a 16-year-old girl was allegedly “kidnapped” by 22-year-old Mohammad Altaf -- who was later found "hanging" from a 3ft-high water tap in the washroom of the thana on November 9 – the Kasganj police on Monday produced her in court for recording her statement, claiming she was found “sitting alone” at the town's railway station on Friday evening.
Police said they are yet to nab the “unknown” friend with whom Altaf had allegedly "sent the girl into hiding".
This development came even as videos of her with Altaf, sitting and laughing together, surfaced on Monday, raising more uncomfortable questions for the Kasganj police, five of whom have been suspended and a few unnamed ones booked for murder.
SP Kasganj Botre Rohan Pramod said, “Altaf and the minor girl were in a relationship. Altaf had persuaded the girl to leave her home with his friend and planned to catch up with them later after arranging some money. Altaf’s friend Rinku took her to Mathura and Agra. On the basis of inputs from a police surveillance team, the girl was rescued from Kasganj railway station. Rinku managed to escape, and efforts are on to nab him. The girl will be handed over to her family on Tuesday after the court proceedings are over.”
Police said the girl is being kept at a ‘One Stop Centre’ until the court formalities are over. Such centres provide integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence.
The FIR, filed by the girl's father against Altaf and his "unknown" friend, stated that she had left her home with Altaf's friend, "taking her clothes and academic certificates along to Delhi". The FIR was registered at Sadar Kotwali police station under section 363 and 366 (kidnapping and abduction) of the Indian Penal Code.
TOI had earlier reported that an FIR for kidnapping against Altaf was registered after he died in police custody on Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Altaf’s father, Chand Miyan -- citing the TOI report -- sent a letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday demanding a judicial or CBI investigation in the alleged murder of his son. Miyan also demanded that a second postmortem of his son’s body -- which was buried on Wednesday -- be conducted by doctors from All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS). Miyan said he and his wife will be forced to go on a hunger strike if the chief minister does not hear his prayers.
While police claimed that Altaf hanged himself with the drawstring of his jacket’s hoodie in the washroom of the lockup at Kotwali Sadar police station, his family disputed the theory. The autopsy report mentioned “asphyxia” as the cause of death, but makes no mention of any bruises or injuries on the rest of the body. The family members had claimed that they were not shown the body before the postmortem on Tuesday night.
