Boycott gang rape accused’s community: Maha-panchayat

A ‘maha-panchayat’ held on Thursday at Mogarra village in Mathura district decided to boycott the Qureshi community to which two youths, who had allegedly gangraped a minor girl from the Jat community, belonged. One of the accused was presented in court on Wednesday and sent to jail while the other is absconding.

Yunus (24) and Anees (22) had allegedly barged into a Jat house on Tuesday night, took a minor girl to a nearby vacant plot and gang raped her.

Yunus was nabbed by the mob, thrashed and handed over to police. A case was registered under section 376 D (for gang rape) and POSCO Act (the girl being a minor).

Since the incident could take a communal turn, Mathura police has deployed Provincial Armed Constabulory (PAC) beside force from other police stations.

Villagers were also disappointed since Yunus was a well known wrestler and was considered the pride of the Jat-dominated village for winning wrestling competitions. The villagers had earlier spared Yunus and not lodged a complaint when he had allegedly eveteased a girl a month ago.

“We have nothing against the Muslims but now onwards nobody would deal with members of this community,” stated Chandrapal Kuntal, pradhan of the village during the ‘maha-panchayat’.

The villagers threatened to launch an agitation if police failed to arrest Anees, the other accused, within a week.

“The situation is peaceful and PAC continues to be deployed. Efforts are on to arrest Anees soon,” claimed superintendent of police Arun Kumar Singh while talking to HT on Thursday evening.