Molestation victim’s father killed in UP

Yogi orders strict action in the case, directs officials to invoke NSA against the accused

AGRA: A 50-year-old man was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district by a man against whom the deceased lodged a police case in July 2018 for molesting his daughter in July 2018, police said. The killer was out on bail in the molestation case.

The incident happened on Monday and made the headlines after a video of the 20-year-old woman pleading for justice went viral.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath ordered strict action in the case and directed officials to invoke provisions of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against the accused who is on the run.

The police added that the alleged killer, Gaurav Sharma, who is believed to be in his 30s, has been trying to convince the woman’s family to withdraw the case. The cremation of the father took place on Tuesday amidst tight security with the woman shouldering the bier on which his body was taken for cremation.

“My father was shot dead in broad daylight just because he filed a case of molestation I have lost my father and what I want now is justice,” she said.

Sharma was arrested in the molestation case and was in jail for a month but was granted bail in August 2018. He has since married.

AGRA: A 50-year-old man was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district by a man against whom the deceased had lodged a police case for molesting his daughter in July 2018, police said. The alleged killer was out on bail in the molestation case.

With tears and anger in her eyes, the 20-year-old girl whom the alleged killer had molested in 2018, pleaded for justice for her father’s murder. “Please, mujhe insaaf chaiyye,” she said.

Taking note of the incident, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered strict action in the case and directed officials to invoke provisions of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against the accused.

The accused was creating pressure on the family of the girl to withdraw the molestation case and on Monday he shot dead the father of girl, the police said.

The cremation of deceased Amreesh Sharma took place on Tuesday amidst tight security with his daughter giving shoulder to the bier on which Sharma’s mortal remains were taken for cremation.

“My father was shot dead in broad daylight just because he filed a case of molestation (on July 16, 2018) after he (accused) misbehaved with me. I have lost my father and what I want now is justice,” the girl from village Nojarpur, under Sasni police station in Hathras district, said.

Accused Gaurav Sharma, in his thirties, was arrested in the molestation case and was in jail for a month but got out on bail in August 2018. He, thereafter, got married and had a daughter, police said.

Deceased Amreesh Sharma was a farmer in Nojarpur village and lived with his two daughters and wife. The elder daughter was married and thus had left the village. The younger daughter completed graduation from Mathura and used to take tuitions of children in the village.

Sources said years back there were talks between the families for Gaurav’s marriage with the deceased’s daughter, before he had molested her, but the girl refused. This allegedly caused animosity between the families, which grew when Amreesh lodged a case for molestation against Gaurav.

“On Monday afternoon, the wife and aunt of Gaurav Sharma were at a temple on the outskirts of the village where both the daughters of Amreesh Sharma were also present. Both groups had an argument and subsequently, Gaurav, along with other family members reached the spot and so did Amreesh Sharma,” stated superintendent of police (SP), Hathras, Vineet Jaiswal.

“Gaurav had an heated argument with Amreesh and it all ended with Gaurav firing at Amreesh, who got badly injured and was rushed to hospital but he died on the way,” said Jaiswal.

Sunil Sharma, elder brother of deceased Amreesh, said: “My brother was shot dead for no fault of his and accused Gaurav killed him in broad daylight. The accused lives in Bahraich but comes to the village as his mousi (aunt) lives here.”

“Now only mother and daughter are left after the killing of my brother. The government should give justice and the accused should be hanged. The aggrieved family should be extended help to manage in life,” Sunil said.

Hathras police are, meanwhile, hunting for the Gaurav, who is on the run after the killing.

“Four people have been named as accused in the murder case (under section 302 of the IPC) lodged at Sasni police station of Hathras. They are Gaurav Sharma alias Golu, Nikhil Sharma, Rohtash and Lalit Sharma.

Lalit has been arrested. Search has been launched for arrest of main accused Gaurav and the other two accused,” said Jaiswal. “Adequate security has been provided to the deceased’s family. Four teams have being constituted to nab the other three named accused,” said inspector general, Aligarh range, Piyush Mordia.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has expressed concern over the incident and blamed the BJP government for failure in providing security and safety to girls in the state.BJP has alleged that accused Gaurav Sharma had connections with the Samajwadi Party but SP leaders denied it.

My father was shot dead in broad daylight just because he filed a case of molestation (on July 16, 2018) after he (accused) misbehaved with me. I have lost my father and what I want now is justice.

THE GIRL FROM NOJARPUR VILLAGE