As the Kashmir Valley observed shutdown for the fifth day on Saturday, the State High Court asked the police to explain the > detention of the Handwara girl , whose alleged molestation sparked violent protests that left five civilians dead, and that of her father and an aunt.
A bench, comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, not only issued a notice to the police to file an objection to a petition filed by counsel of the girl's mother, but also directed that the detained girl "be produced before the nearest court of Chief Judicial Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate".
On Saturday, Taja Begum approached the court and questioned the detention of her minor daughter, husband and a woman relative since April 13.
In a statement, however, the police described it as a "preventive detention."
Five people were killed in street protests that erupted over the molestation allegation. However, in a widely-circulated video, the girl is seen denying that she was molested by Army personnel on Tuesday last.
Shutdown and curfew continue to mar life in the Valley.
