Photographed by local media called by Punjab cops, girl kills self

Less than two hours after being photographed by some local news photographers called by the police after the car in which she was travelling hit the vehicle in front at a police barricade here, Shivali, a BA student in her late teens, killed herself today.

According to reports, Shivali was with a youth, also in his late teens, when their vehicle hit the other car at the police barricade near her college — Prem Chand Markanda SD College for Women — shortly after 2 pm. An argument ensued, following which Traffic Inspector Balwinder Kaur reportedly asked Shivali and her friend to step out of the vehicle.

Eyewitnesses told The Indian Express that the traffic police personnel humiliated the couple publicly. They reportedly ordered Shivali's friend to do "uthak-baithak", but he refused to comply. The police then called some local news photographers and told them to take photographs of the couple.

Despite Shivali's protests, photographs were taken. "The girl threatened to commit suicide if her photos were published in newspapers... but a photographer said they would publish it," said an eyewitness.

Shivali and her friend were finally allowed to go after they reached a settlement with the other driver.

At around 4 pm, Shivali committed suicide by jumping in front of a running train near the railway station, less than a kilometre from the police barricade where they were stopped. Railway authorities said no suicide note was recovered from her bag.

When contacted, Inspector Kaur said the police barricade was set up as part of a routine drive to check eve-teasing. She said she intervened when she saw the occupants of the two cars arguing with each other. "I didn't see the girl being photographed by anyone," she claimed.

The victim's brother, Paras, blamed the media for the incident. But he gave no answer when asked why they had not filed a complaint. Shivali's parents could not be contacted.

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