Police register case in opposition to unfold of unverified information over Lahore pupil’s alleged rape

Students carry placards as they shout slogans during a protest in Lahore on October 15, 2024. — AFP
College students carry placards as they shout slogans throughout a protest in Lahore on October 15, 2024. — AFP
  • Case registered by police beneath part 20 of PECA, 2016.
  • Prices additionally embody punishment for defamation, public mischief.
  • FIR says household’s repute broken after unfold of misinformation.

LAHORE: Quickly after a high-level committee, fashioned by the Punjab authorities, revealed its preliminary findings in regards to the alleged rape of a first-year feminine pupil at a non-public school within the metropolis, the police registered a primary info report (FIR) on the Defence A Police Station citing the unfold of misinformation and unverified information on social media.

The case has been registered by the police beneath part 20 of the Prevention of Digital Crimes Act, 2016, which offers with “offences in opposition to dignity of a pure particular person”, whereas different fees embody part 354 (assault or prison power to girl with intent to outrage her modesty); 500 (punishment for defamation); 501 (printing or engraving matter identified to be defamatory); and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

The event comes after social media was flooded with public outcry over the alleged rape incident, with the matter going viral throughout numerous platforms with images of some feminine college students additionally being broadly shared.

The matter surfaced on the web after college students of a non-public school took to streets on Monday to protest in opposition to the alleged rape. The demonstration turned violent after dozens of the protestors have been injured in violent clashes with protesters and legislation enforcers. The protests additionally continued on Tuesday and Wednesday in distinction cities of the province.

In accordance with the FIR, the information of the alleged rape of the coed went viral on social media. It added that numerous college students have been requested to substantiate the incident, whereas the involved lady and her dad and mom fully denied its prevalence.

The FIR additional acknowledged that the lady’s dad and mom stated that their daughter fell in the home on October 2 and suffered deep damage.

The lady’s remedy was finished on the Lahore Common Hospital and Ittefaq Hospital until October 11 with 15 days of mattress relaxation really helpful to her.

“After the damage, the daughter neither went to school nor elsewhere,” learn the FIR, including that the household’s repute was broken following the unfold of misinformation.

The FIR particularly talked about a video that went viral on social media, claiming a few feminine pupil of a non-public school being allegedly raped and receiving remedy at a hospital.

“The incident led college students and folks astray as a part of a conspiracy in opposition to authorities establishments. They have been pressured to protest by inciting provocation,” it talked about.

The offended folks, the FIR added, set fireplace to the place and broke it.

In accordance with the FIR, spreading unverified information on social media additionally prompted monetary loss on a big scale.

Mother and father deny rape in assembly with high-level committee

In the meantime, the high-level committee led by the house secretary on Tuesday met the alleged sufferer and her dad and mom for 3 hours at their residence.

They recorded statements from 36 people together with senior officers reminiscent of DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran and the faculty principal, Dr Saadia Javed.

The alleged sufferer and her dad and mom clarified that she had suffered an damage after falling from her mattress at residence on October 2.

She acquired remedy at numerous hospitals together with the Common Hospital and the Mind and Backbone Clinic in Cantt, earlier than being discharged from the Itttefaq Hospital, Mannequin City, on October 11.

They emphasised that no incident of rape occurred and expressed concern over the false narratives spreading on social media.

They requested the police to file a case in opposition to these concerned in disinformation beneath the Cyber Crime Act. The committee additionally included key figures from the training sector.

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