SRINAGAR: Having defied convention, Kashmir's first all-girls rock band is facing a challenge of online threats and abuses from conservative sections of the society. The teenaged girls who came to limelight in late December last year after their scintillating performance at the annual 'Battle of the Bands' competition here have received online threats and absurd comments, leaving their parents worried and forcing the girls to keep a low profile. Though there are dozens of bands currently playing popular music of different genres in the Valley, the girls - vocalist-guitarist Noma Nazir, drummer Farah Deeba and Guitarist Aneeka Khalid (all students of tenth standard) - formed their rock band named " Pragaash " (light) and won the best performance award in their first public appearance. "There has been a wicked campaign against the girls ever since they made their maiden appearance in public on December 26," owner of Band Inn, a musical academy where the girls are undergoing training, Adnan Matoo said. He said some people who were not happy over the progress of the youth in the Valley are behind such campaign. "Whenever a new thing happens in a society especially related to music and fashion, such things happen," he said indicating that the girls will not be cowed down by the online threats and absurd comments and will continue to pursue their dream in music. He said the band is presently working on an album. Criticism is nothing new to Kashmiri women singers who defied strong opposition in the past as well and made a name in the music field. Raj Begum , renowned Kashmiri singer, even won the national award.

Omar backs all-girls band; promises police probe

Coming out in support of Kashmir's only all-girls rock band which faced online threats, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah , today, promised a police probe and hoped that the talented teenagers would not let themselves be silenced by a "handful of morons".

The chief minister said it was a matter of shame that those who demand freedom of speech on social media networks, use it to threaten the girls, who are Class X students.

"The police will examine the threats issued and whether any provision of the law can be used to book those making the threats (to the rock band)," Omar said, adding, "I hope these talented young girls will not let a handful of morons silence them."

"Shame on those who claim freedom of speech via social media and then use that freedom to threaten girls who have the right to choose to sing," he wrote on Twitter.

