A 50-year-old man was shot and killed in Hathras on Monday, allegedly by a man accused of sexually abusing his daughter two years ago. Police said the defendant, Gaurav Sharma, allegedly sexually abused the victim’s daughter in 2018, following which a rivalry ensued between the two families.
On Monday night, the defendant, along with five other people, opened fire on her father inside their village in Hathras district, police said. The man was rushed to the nearest hospital where he was pronounced dead, they said.
The murder triggered a political storm in Uttar Pradesh and the leaders of the ruling BJP claimed that the accused is a leader of the Samajwadi Party. The SP, however, denied the claim and criticized the government for the situation of law and order in the state.
“Police teams, including senior officials, arrived at the scene and found the victim injured. He died on the way to the hospital. During the investigation it was found that the accused and the victim had an argument that escalated. The victim’s family had accused Gaurav of sexual abuse in 2018 for which he was in jail for a month and was later released on bail. One defendant has been arrested and others will be caught soon, ”said Vineet Jaiswal, SP Hathras.
According to the police, the accused along with his wife and aunt were visiting a temple near the victim’s house.
The victim’s daughters were also present at the temple and the two families argued. Gaurav and the other defendant then went to the victim’s field, where he was harvesting potatoes, and allegedly opened fire, police said.
The victim’s family has alleged that he was murdered as a result of his youngest daughter’s complaint, on the basis of which a case of sexual abuse against Gaurav was registered.
“About 6-7 of them shot my father several times. He was at the potato farm and had nothing to do with the argument in the temple. Gaurav Sharma first abused me and when my father brought a case, he did. I need justice, ”the victim’s 25-year-old daughter said in an emotional appeal in front of the local police station.
A murder FIR has been filed at the police station against Gaurav Sharma, Rohtas Sharma, Nikhil Sharma and Lalit Sharma, along with two other unidentified defendants. While Lalit Sharma was arrested on Tuesday, the others escaped.
Several police teams are tracking the whereabouts of the defendants, a senior official said.
The family alleged that the defendant, over the past few years, harassed them, flaunted his “political connections” and pressured the victim’s daughter to befriend him and then marry.
“I grew up in this town while Gaurav was visiting his relatives here. In his images on social media, he can be seen brandishing weapons. And he would do the same in town. He often passed lewd comments and asked me to befriend him. Despite my refusal, he continued to harass me into marrying him. One day, when he saw me alone in the house, he abused me and then threatened my family, ”said the victim’s daughter.
Police records show that the woman filed a FIR in July 2018 against Gaurav under sections 354 of the IPC (outrageous modesty of a woman), 506 (intimidation) and 452 (burglary). The FIR stated that since the accused was a distant relative, the victim had been in contact with him by phone and that one day he entered the house and sexually abused the woman.
The statements of the defendants have been registered in a local court and the trial is pending.
Speaking to The Indian Express, the woman said: “There was a time when we were scared because their threats wouldn’t stop.
Then, for a year and a half, he said nothing and we thought the worst was over. When his family saw us again, they were enraged. He’s a well-known SP worker and very influential. “
Gaurav is originally from Shravasti, where his father works in the government Department of Agriculture. He visited the victim’s town since his relatives lived here. Most of Gaurav’s political activities were limited to Aligarh, police said.
On Twitter, Kannauj’s BJP MP Subrat Pathak, who is also the BJP secretary general of state, posted: “Watch out for the red cap [worn by SP workers]. This Samajwadi leader has killed the father of a Brahmin girl for opposing her sexual abuse. The Samajwadi Party supports these criminals. The greater the criminal, the greater the Samajwadi. “
At a press meeting, Samajwadi Party Chairman Akhilesh Yadav did not address allegations that Gaurav was a member of the SP and was participating in farmers’ protests on behalf of the party.
Ask the Chief Minister what he has to say about Hathras’s daughter who is crying. Did you hear how he’s crying? This is the situation in Uttar Pradesh, and the CM is roaming Bengal. A delegation from the Samajwadi Party will come to meet her soon, ”Yadav said.
However, Yadav lost his cool when a journalist pointed out that an FIR had been registered in the sexual abuse case in 2018 and said: “You are sold (bikey hue). His father died and you’re doing drama. I know how people get ads. “
SP spokesman Juhie Singh said the defendant “is not a party official nor is he a spokesperson.” Former SP MLA and former Minister of State Forestry Pawan Pandey posted photos of the defendant with Aligarh BJP deputy Satish Gautam and claimed that they show he took refuge in the ruling party.
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