Different versions by police add to controversy

Even as an uneasy calm prevailed in Meerut’s Shastri Nagar area on Thursday, different versions on the controversy left many confused.

While initially the police said that both the girl and boy were Muslims and there was no communal angle in the issue, later SP (city) Alok Priyadarshi clarified that it was now confirmed that the boy was Muslim and girl a Hindu and a resident of Muzaffarnagar.

Local residents claim that girls were frequenting the room since the past one week and on Tuesday they caught Wasim with a Hindu girl in objectionable position and informed the police, as well as HYV leaders and activists, who later protested at the police station.They said that the girl was identified as a teacher of Muzaffarnagar who was carrying a large sum of money and expensive mobile phones in her handbag. Police called her parents and handed her over to them and the accused was booked on the complaint of constable Sunil Kumar and later granted bail from the court.

However, cops said Wasim was a stalker who had been chasing the girl from Muzaffarnagar and local residents reported the matter to police on her complaint.

The complaint lodged in the police station reads, “Wasim was caught near RTO bridge while passing objectionable remarks on women and girls passing by and was booked under section 294 of IPC.” SP(City) Alok Priyadarshi said that the accused and the girl belonged to Muzaffarnagar and the latter used to come Meerut to attend her coaching classes. Wasim began stalking her and on her complaint, local residents informed the police.

LOCALS BLAME MEDIA FOR CONTROVERSY

The local people were wary of speaking on the issue, blaming the media for dragging the HYV name to give hype to the issue and police for being lenient in the case. Tinku, a driver, questioned, “What was wrong if local residents acted against the unpleasant activities inside the house?” Accusing the cops of leniency, he asked, “Why did they not send the girl for medical examination and why was the accused booked under mild charges?”

Accused Wasim, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, was booked on charges of passing objectionable comments on girls and women. He was produced in court and granted bail. Wife of advocate Sunil Pundeer, who live adjacent to the house where the accused was caught, said different girls were seen visiting the house in the past one week and the matter was reported to the flat owner but he took no notice.