Mysterious death of girl sparks protest in Budhal

Rajouri, May 24: The mysterious death of a teenage girl in the remote Budhal area of Rajouri district has sparked protests.

The 18-year-old girl Sonia Akhter, daughter of Abdul Gafoor Sheikh, was found dead under a cliff on Friday evening after receiving a phone call and leaving her house.

The body was taken into possession by the police, and a post-mortem examination was conducted by a board of doctors in Rajouri on Saturday morning.  However, the circumstances surrounding her death have raised suspicions among the locals, who are demanding a thorough investigation.

On Saturday afternoon, the family members, relatives, and locals blocked the main chowk at Budhal and held a peaceful protest, seeking justice for Sonia.  They alleged that the death seemed suspicious and not a normal case of suicide.

The protesters urged the police to investigate the case on priority and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"Everyone here is with the Police and investigation team and we have a simple demand to find the cause of death," said Mohammad Farooq Inqlabi, Waqar Lone and other locals who were in protest.

Later, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kandi, Wajahat Hussain, reached the site and assured the protesters that a speedy investigation was underway.  He stated that vital leads have been developed, and the police team is hopeful of solving the case soon and based on this assurance, the protest was called off.