A shocking case has come to light in Punjab, in which a 17-year-old girl from Ferozepur district has returned after months, who was allegedly pushed into a canal by her father.
The girl, a school dropout and the eldest among four sisters, on Sunday came before the media to narrate her painful story and made a shocking appeal to release her father from jail.
Action taken after video went viral
According to NDTV report, this incident happened on the night of 29 September in front of the victim’s mother and three younger sisters. Her father, Surjit Singh, was suspicious of her “character”, tied her hands with a rope and brutally pushed her into the canal. He also made a video of this cruel act, which went viral.
In the video, he was heard saying, “Come and die,” as he was thrown into the canal. As his wife screamed for help, he said, “Let her die.” As the girl drifted off, she said, “Bye bye.” Acting immediately on the complaint of the girl’s cousin in the matter, Firozpur City Police registered a case of murder and arrested Singh. Since then he is in judicial custody in Central Jail.
However, now she has returned alive. The girl emotionally told the media how she survived. She said that as the strong currents of the canal swept her away, the ropes tied around her wrists miraculously loosened. While drifting helplessly, his head struck an iron rod sticking out of the water, a painful injury that became his lifeline. She caught hold of it and reached the shore.
The girl demanded the release of her father
Then three passersby saw him and pulled him out safely. However, she did not say where she found refuge for about two months, but said that she was ill and was undergoing treatment. Now he has appealed to the authorities to release his father. She said – “Release my father – my sisters need him.” “There is no one else to take care of my younger sisters,” she said, crying.
She alleged that her mother had instigated her angry, intoxicated father during the attack. He has also sought police protection, claiming that he does not trust his relatives. The police are now investigating and are likely to convert the murder charges to attempt to murder after the girl’s testimony comes to light.
Senior police officer Bhupinder Singh said it was “very good news” that she had been found safe. He said, “The girl told that initially she was scared and in shock. Due to head injury, she could not remember some things, that is why she did not come forward earlier.”
He further said, “Initially the father himself had made a video, and on the basis of that video, a case was registered against him under section 302 (murder). However, now that the girl has been found alive, appropriate sections will be imposed based on her statements, and further action will be taken accordingly.”