Girl denies kidnapping by MLA

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 25

The girl, whose parents had accused BJP MLA Gagan Bhagat of abducting her, refuted the same by appearing before a section of media on Sunday night.

“Nobody has kidnapped me. He (Bhagat) is a good person and all allegations against him are false,” the girl said, adding that she was afraid of her parents who were “forcing” her to marry a person much “below” her standards as she was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ayurvedic medicine and surgery.

Earlier in the day, the girl’s father, Rajinder Kumar, a defence personnel posted at Kupwara, and other relatives held a protest at the Press Club, accusing the BJP legislator of holding their daughter hostage.

“Gagan Bhagat lured my daughter into a trap and took me into confidence for securing a medical seat for her at a university in Punjab after she failed to get through NEET exams. I went along with Bhagat and my daughter to get her admission done and when I went to get her back for the vacations, I was told by the university authorities that Gagan had already taken her with him on March 8. Since then, I have not had any contact with my daughter as he has abducted her,” said Kumar, a resident of Kalyana village of RS Pura.

Reacting to the charges, Bhagat had addressed mediapersons late on Sunday night to clear his position.

“The allegations are fake and aimed at defaming me. It is a well thought-out conspiracy as some people are playing dirty politics. Once the girl comes up with her statement, it will all be clear,” said Bhagat.

The RS Pura MLA said if the allegations were proved to be right, he would resign as a legislator.

While Bhagat cleared his position, the girl, in a dramatic turn, showed up at the government guest house and denied all allegations against her and MLA.

Responding to the questions, the girl said she was in regular touch with her family and even talked to them in the morning before they staged the protest. "I am studying outside the state and my family members used to visit me in the college. I visited my home last time in the winter holidays," she said.

About a photograph of her and Bhagat having gone viral, both (Bhagat and she) said it was morphed to defame them.

Superintendent of Police, Headquarters, Ramesh Kotwal said the girl had given them an application, stating that she had not been kidnapped.

Father's allegation

The girl's father had alleged that MLA Gagan Bhagat had lured his daughter into a trap and taken him into confidence for securing a medical seat for her at a university in Punjab. He said when he went to get her back for the vacations, he was told by the university authorities that Gagan had already taken her with him on March 8. He said he had had no contact with his daughter since then.