17-year-old girl returns two months after father threw her into canal

CHANDIGARH: A 17-year-old girl who was pushed into a canal by her own father has returned home two months after the incident. The shocking incident took place in Firozpur district of Punjab. The girl appeared before the media yesterday and explained how she survived, while also requesting that her father be released from jail.

The incident took place on September 29. Suspecting her character, the girl’s father, Surjit Singh, tied her hands with a rope and pushed her into a canal in front of his wife and three younger daughters. He even recorded the act on video, which later went viral on social media. Based on a complaint filed by a relative, Firozpur City Police registered a case of murder and arrested the father. He is currently in jail.

“In the strong currents of the canal, the rope around my hands somehow came loose. While being swept away, I managed to grab an iron rod that was sticking out into the water. Holding onto it, I swam to the shore. Three people who were passing by rescued me,” the girl said. However, she did not disclose where she stayed for the two months or who helped her. She only said she had been ill and under treatment. Crying, she asked authorities to free her father from jail, saying there was no one else to take care of her younger sisters.

She also alleged that it was her mother who actually provoked her father. The girl requested police protection, saying she did not trust her relatives. Based on her statement, the direction of the case has changed. Police sources said the charge may be altered from murder to attempted murder.