Mob vandalises rape accused's shop in UP, tries to drag him out of police jeep
Police arrested the accused, Gulzar Ahmed, in Pratapgarh in a minor kidnapping and rape case and later shielded him from an angry mob. The arrest triggered protests, vandalism, a shop demolition and a heavy security deployment in Patti.
Massive chaos erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh following the arrest of a man accused of kidnapping and raping a minor girl. The accused, identified as 31-year-old Gulzar Ahmed, was arrested by the police near the Udaiyadih Mode bus stand. The incident has triggered intense communal and social tension across the locality.
The situation escalated into high-voltage drama when the police were preparing to transport Ahmed to the court for judicial custody. An enraged mob, alongside activists from the right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal, intercepted and surrounded the police vehicle. The aggressive crowd attempted to violently drag the accused out of the police jeep to assault him on the spot. Showing prompt action, the police managed to shield the accused from the mob's clutches and swiftly drove the vehicle away to safety.
Calling the incident a case of 'Love Jihad', Bajrang Dal activists staged a massive protest and gheraoed (encircled) the Patti Kotwali police station, chanting slogans. Meanwhile, sections of the angry crowd targeted the accused's shop located in the Patti market, resorting to heavy stone-pelting and vandalism. Within minutes, a wave of panic and tension swept through the local market, forcing a shutdown.
In a bid to disperse the gathering, defuse the escalating tension, and maintain law and order, the local administration and police resorted to a stern crackdown. A bulldozer was brought to the spot, which demolished the tin shed and shutter of Gulzar Ahmed's shop. Following the demolition, the authorities immediately sealed the commercial property.
The minor survivor was safely rescued by the police on May 11. Following her recovery, a case was registered against Gulzar Ahmed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, kidnapping charges, and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alok Kumar stated that while the situation in Patti town is currently under control, a heavy police contingent has been deployed as a precautionary measure. Law enforcement agencies are conducting regular patrols to prevent any further untoward incidents and ensure peace.
Massive chaos erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh following the arrest of a man accused of kidnapping and raping a minor girl. The accused, identified as 31-year-old Gulzar Ahmed, was arrested by the police near the Udaiyadih Mode bus stand. The incident has triggered intense communal and social tension across the locality.
The situation escalated into high-voltage drama when the police were preparing to transport Ahmed to the court for judicial custody. An enraged mob, alongside activists from the right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal, intercepted and surrounded the police vehicle. The aggressive crowd attempted to violently drag the accused out of the police jeep to assault him on the spot. Showing prompt action, the police managed to shield the accused from the mob's clutches and swiftly drove the vehicle away to safety.
Calling the incident a case of 'Love Jihad', Bajrang Dal activists staged a massive protest and gheraoed (encircled) the Patti Kotwali police station, chanting slogans. Meanwhile, sections of the angry crowd targeted the accused's shop located in the Patti market, resorting to heavy stone-pelting and vandalism. Within minutes, a wave of panic and tension swept through the local market, forcing a shutdown.
In a bid to disperse the gathering, defuse the escalating tension, and maintain law and order, the local administration and police resorted to a stern crackdown. A bulldozer was brought to the spot, which demolished the tin shed and shutter of Gulzar Ahmed's shop. Following the demolition, the authorities immediately sealed the commercial property.
The minor survivor was safely rescued by the police on May 11. Following her recovery, a case was registered against Gulzar Ahmed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, kidnapping charges, and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alok Kumar stated that while the situation in Patti town is currently under control, a heavy police contingent has been deployed as a precautionary measure. Law enforcement agencies are conducting regular patrols to prevent any further untoward incidents and ensure peace.
