Pak intruder tries to molest daughters of Indian official
An intruder in Pakistan tried to molest the two minor daughters of an Indian high commission staff member in Islamabad.
According to an external affairs ministry spokesperson in New Delhi on Tuesday, the man entered the house of the Indian official when his daughters were home alone. The incident took place on September 2.
India has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan government and Pakistan deputy high commissioner in New Delhi Jaleel Abbas Gilani was summoned to the external affairs ministry on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, Mr Vijay Nambiar, also conveyed what has been described as India’s “gravest view of the incident” to Pakistan foreign secretary Inamul Haq. India has also said the perpetrators of the crime, irrespective of their identity, must be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
Giving the details of the incident, the spokesperson said the Indian official and his wife were at a hospital while his daughters, aged eight and six, along with the seven-year-old daughter of another staff member in the same area, were playing in the driveway of the house.
“At around 5 pm, an intruder entered the compound and took two of the girls to one corner of the garden and attempted to physically misbehave with them. The girls resisted and ran inside,” the spokesman said. The girls informed their parents when they returned home and a first information report was lodged with the local police.
“There is very little doubt that the Pakistani intelligence official keeping watch over the Indian official’s house did nothing to prevent the incident,” the spokesperson said, adding, “It also appears that the intruder not only knew that the staff member and his wife were away, but was also sure that they would not be back early. The role of the Pakistani intelligence officials was, therefore, extremely questionable.”
According to the spokesperson, another incident had taken place on September 3 when an Indian mission staff member and his family were proceeding by car from Islamabad to Taxila when they were stopped at a police checkpost, questioned and taken to a police station where they were detained for 40 minutes. India has said the attitude of the Pakistan authorities is in violation of the Vienna Convention and the bilateral code of conduct for treatment of diplomatic personnel.
The Pakistani foreign secretary and the deputy high commissioner here have expressed “regret” over the act and said the Pakistani authorities would investigate the incident. Last week, Pakistani intelligence agents attempted to intimidate two Indian diplomats in Islamabad.
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