Girl at centre of Bhardwaj arrest appeals for security

New Delhi: The girl whose father suffered a skull injury during the Cockroach Janta Party protest in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar said on Friday that she was “genuinely afraid for the safety of myself and my family” and urged that they be provided security urgently as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Her appeal on social media came a day after an apex court bench orally observed that allegations of harassment and intimidation of the 14-year-old “cannot be taken lightly” and ordered security for the minor and her family.

“Despite the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, neither my family nor I have been provided with adequate security so far. Due to continuous threats, I am genuinely afraid for the safety of myself and my family,” the girl posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj had in a podcast boasted of cracking the skull of the girl’s father, following which fresh charges were added against Bhardwaj after the CJP and the Congress pressed the Delhi police to invoke strict charges against the influencer who had bragged of proximity to Delhi police and BJP and NDA leaders.

“Several false cross-FIRs have also been lodged against me in different states. I fear that these cases may be used to force me to travel to places where I could be subjected to a life-threatening attack,” the girl wrote on Friday.

“I am a Class 10 student and have my board examinations this year. However, due to the constant threat to my safety, I am unable to attend school or tuition, which is seriously affecting my education and future,” she wrote.

“I therefore respectfully request that the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court be implemented immediately and that adequate security and necessary protection be provided to me and my family without any further delay.”

The Supreme Court was concerned to learn that police had registered an FIR against the girl and that her home had been stoned by supporters of a man she had accused of assault.

While no names were named, the allusion seemed to be to Bhardwaj.

The Supreme Court bench sought a status report from the police forces of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh — the girl’s home state where the FIR against her has been registered.

It asked solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police, to ensure that adequate protection is provided to the child and her family.

On September 1, the apex court had quashed all the FIRs against the paper-leak protesters and prohibited any coercive action against the youths except for those with a history of crime. On Wednesday, it had pulled up a Greater Noida magistrate for issuing a notice to a student protester.

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The Hans India