House of man accused of “kidnapping” Hindu girl torched by right wing men
AGRA : Members of a few right wing organisations on Friday morning burned the locked and empty house of a man from minority community, who has been booked for allegedly kidnapping a girl from other community in Runakata area of Agra, police said. The accused is absconding since the day of incident on Monday afternoon after a case under section 366 of IPC (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her to marriage) was lodged against him at Sikandra police station of Agra by the family members of girl, who was recovered from Delhi on Wednesday.
Despite recovery of the girl and her statement, through a video, that she was not a minor and had gone on her own free will with the accused Sajid (one name), there was pressure on Agra police to take action.
Members of right wing organisations have been expressing anger and blaming police for inaction and on Friday targeted two locked houses of the accused and burned down one.
“On Friday morning, taking advantage of police force’s preoccupation in conduct of Ambedkar Jayanti procession that moves in city all through night of Thursday and Friday, some notorious elements of selfproclaimed right wing organisations targeted two houses of Sajid, who runs a gym in Runakata area, and burned down one and ransacked the other,” SSP Agra Sudhir Kumar Singh.
Singh said the fire had been doused and heavy police force deployed in the area.
“The situation is under control. These two houses were locked as all family members of the Sajid had already fled ever since the FIR of kidnapping was lodged on Monday,” the SSP said.
He said now a fresh FIR has been registered in regard with the arson and the chowki in charge of Runakata Jitendra Singh suspended for laxity in duty. A probe has also been ordered against Balwan Singh, in charge Sikandra police station.
“Nine of those found on spot have been arrested and are being questioned. We have got videos and CCTV footages about those involved and strict action will be taken under National Security Act (NSA) and Gangster Act against those found involved,” said the SSP. The SSP further said the girl has been kept in Nari Niketan and her statement would be recorded once the court, presently on vacation, resumes functioning.
Talking to HT, deputy SP Hariparvat Circle, Satya Narain said the case has been registered against 20 named and 200 unidentified accused.
“Those arrested are from different organisations, including Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad and Dharam Jagran Samanvyaya Sangh,” said Satya Narain.
Meanwhile, right wing organisations have justified the act and said it was a “reaction to the action aimed at disgracing respect of Hindu girls and women”. “If any Hindu girl is kidnapped by those from other religion then it will evoke same reaction,” said Raunak Thakur, district president of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.