Pune suspect: ‘My daughter is innocent, had come to meet friends’

Srinagar, Feb 02: Mother of 18-year-old Pune girl, who was labeled as “suicide bomber” by security agencies in Kashmir claimed that her daughter is, “innocent and is unnecessarily being pushed behind bars despite no evidence against her”.

Sadia Anwar Shaikh, was arrested by Kashmir Police on January 26 claiming that she was planning to explode herself during the Republic Day.

However, her mother said that she had gone to Kashmir to meet her friend and further seek admission in the valley.

The Pune police has also investigated about the girl and found no case or any FIR against her.

Shaikh’s mother said that her daughter is innocent and she was never involved in such things.

“When I heard her name in the news I thought it might be some other girl. But when I saw her pics in the news on TV. It was shocking for me. It was difficult to believe because I know my daughter very well. Still I thought that someone might have misused her documents or pics,” she said.

“The moment I saw her in the news. I could not stop myself and came here. I am right now in a difficult situation. I talked to IG as well and he told me that they have not found any evidence against her. They told me that they will release her within two days. But they did not released her till now.”

She said that despite having no evidence, the police has kept her in a custody. “My daughter is an orphan. Who will fight for her justice?” she asked.

“I am moving from one place to another to seek justice for my daughter. I am suffering here, I am alone fighting for her justice. My daughter is just 18 years of old. I want justice,” she said.

She said that there is no proof or any evidence against her daughter still she is struggling in a custody.

“ I never knew I have to face all these things. I am alone fighting for the justice of my daughter,” she added.

Additional Director General of Police(ADGP) , Muneer Khan said that the police department is investigating the matter and they will release the statement soon. “There are officials involved who decide on it and it is a group decision keeping in mind the sensitivity of the matter. So we need to do our verification and only then we will be able to come to a conclusive decision. By today(Feb 3), all verification will be done and we then take the final decision,” he said.

Imtiyaz Ismail Parray, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, said, “Sadia was arrested from South district. We were investigating the matter till she was in Srinagar police station. Higher authorities can better talk about this matter.”