Police to support, protect Kashmir girls band every way: DGP

The Jammu and Kashmir Police would support and protect the all-girl band Pragaash to all possible extent in whatever decision they take, said the state police chief Thursday.

"The girls in consonance with their parents have to make the decision whether to quit or continue the band. After all, it is their life and their decision," Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad told IANS.

"Police will support them in whatever decision they take and give them all possible protection."

Police have arrested two people accused of posting threats to the band members.

"After going through the posts, we have identified 10 such people, who have threatened the girls and have used abusive language. We have also approached Facebook people to deactivate accounts of these people," the DGP said.

Prasad said the police were keeping close watch on the developments taking place in this sensitive matter.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is personally monitoring the case, tweeted Thursday: "I am glad police in Kashmir has identified and arrested two people for the online threats made to the girls. I'm told more arrests possible."

Noma Nazir, 15, Aneeqa Khalid, 16, and Farah Deeba, 15, had formed Kashmir Valley's first all-girl rock band Pragaash last year.

In December 2012, the band participated in the 'Battle of Bands' competition in Srinagar, where they finished third.

Following posting of abusive threats against them on Facebook and a fatwa (religious decree) by Kashmir's Grand Mufti (chief cleric) Bashiruddin, the girls decided to disband the band.

Khalid had said at a press conference Monday that they had decided to disband Pragaash in respect to the Grand Mufti's opinion.

She said they were not feeling threatened, but were sad they could no longer pursue their passion.