7 held for stalking school girls, slashing one's ear

Seven people were arrested for allegedly stalking a group of girls, who were on a school picnic, and attacking one of the students by slashing her ear in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

A group of youths allegedly stalked the girls while they were on a school picnic to Pahalgam tourist resort on Thursday and followed them till they returned to their native area of Dooru, 80 km from here, according to the police complaint filed by the parents of the injured girl.

When the girls alighted from the bus, the youths travelling in a van passed lewd comments at them after which an altercation ensued between them and the youths slashed the girl’s ear, the parents said.

“We have arrested seven persons in this connection. A case of eve-teasing has been registered and investigations are on to ascertain the cause of injuries to one of the girls,” a senior police officer said.

He said that once the medical report is received, appropriate sections of the Penal Code will be added to the FIR.

Meanwhile, the station house officer of the area where the incident took place has been placed under suspension pending an inquiry, police added.