Watch the horrifying moment terrified teen Avani Nandra-Hart is strip-searched by police in EastEnders
SHOCKING scenes unfolded on EastEnders tonight as Avani Nandra-Hart faced a harrowing ordeal.
BBC viewers were left stunned as the teen was subjected to a controversial strip-search by police, sparking outrage and debate across the Square.
Teenager Avani (Aaliyah James) was left shattered in harrowing EastEnders scenes after brutal police strip-search.
When Avani, along with pals Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) and Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), skipped school, they were caught by two female officers.
During the bust, dealer Marvin dropped a bag of pills at Avani’s feet, leading to her being accused of carrying drugs.
With her parents unreachable, Avani was forced to be accompanied by an alternative adult and informed she’d be strip-searched.
Initially dismissive, Avani quickly realised the gravity of the situation when the officers threatened to restrain her with handcuffs.
Shocked, she agreed to comply, but had no idea she’d have to undress completely, even removing her underwear.
In a further disturbing turn, the officers demanded Avani bend over naked, leaving her humiliated and terrified.
After finding no drugs, the officers made her sign a form, and her step-grandmother, Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal), arrived to take her home.
Suki was furious, but Avani, still shaken, urged her not to make a complaint.
Back at the Square, a row erupted when Avani lashed out at her mum Priya (Sophie Khan Levy), who had no idea about the strip-search.
Priya, horrified when she learned the truth, stormed over to confront detective Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) demanding action, while Avani broke down in private.
The 15-year-old was left traumatised after the Square learned about her shocking encounter with the police.
A devastating performance by Aaliyah James brought the heart-wrenching story to life, leaving viewers wondering if the police will face consequences and how Avani will cope after such an ordeal.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One or watch from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
Soap's most harrowing teen storylines
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Belle Dingle’s schizophrenia in Emmerdale – Belle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.
The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma’s voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.
Hannah Ashworth’s anorexia in Hollyoaks – Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.
As Hannah’s condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.
Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal in Coronation Street – Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie’s darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
Whitney Dean’s abuse from Tony in EastEnders – Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca’s boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.
On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.