A family from Kukrusa Handwara village of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district Wednesday staged a protest against a Jammu Kashmir Police officer currently posted as Station House Officer (SHO) Police Station Velgam Kupwara. Afroza Akhtar wife of Ghulam Muhammad Khan along with her two daughters and ‘minor’ son appeared here in Press Enclave Srinagar and narrated their ‘ordeal they have been going through’. Accusing SHO Velgam of illegally detaining her minor son for five consecutive days, Afroza Akhtar told reporters she paid Rs 20,000 as bribe to the said SHO for the release of her son. “SHO Velgam after getting bribe from our opponents detained me, my husband, two daughters and minor son in police lock up. He is still threatening me to book my son in stone-pelting cases and I request and appeal higher police brass especially DGP and IGP Kashmir to look into the matter and initiate action against the said SHO who is misusing his official position,” she said.
“After a brawl with our neighbouring family over an immaterial issue, both the parties approached police station for the registration of FIR. However, the SHO rejected our complaint and without listening to us lodged us into police lock up. “FIR was lodged against us and even my minor son Majid was put into lockup for five days. Somehow, I managed to seek the release of my minor son after paying Rs 20,000 bribe to SHO. I have even approached court of law seeking action against the said police officer,” she said and alleged that SHO Velgam was also bribed by the opponent party to settle scores with her and her family.The family members said that they were threatened by the SHO Velgam not to raise the issue before anyone. “I am feeling scared as he (SHO) has threatened me of booking my minor son in false case of stone-pelting. I appeal top police brass to investigate the matter and deliver justice to us,” Afroza Akhtar said.Station House Officer Velgam while refuting the allegations told CNS that the boy is not a minor and during investigation the lady failed to produce any witness in her favour. (CNS)