UP Police have filed rape and murder charges against Lakhan and three others (file)
Meerut / New Delhi:
One of four men charged with gangrape of a Class 10 student in Meerut, western UP, was shot by police as he and his accomplice attempted to escape from custody while being taken to court.
Police said the two defendants, Lakhan and Vikas, were arrested today and were being brought to court when a gun was seized from one of the policemen guarding them and tried to flee.
Police also said that in the ensuing encounter, which involved a team from the Meerut Police Surveillance Department and officers from the Sardhana Police Station, the two were immobilized near a village. Lakhan opened fire and then the police shot him in the leg.
“Today the two defendants were being brought to trial, when they escaped by grabbing a police inspector’s gun. A combing operation was launched … the defendant opened fire on the police. We returned fire and Lakhan was shot. on the leg, “Keshav Kumar, the Superintendent of Police (Rural), said.
Both defendants have been recaptured and Lakhan is being treated at a local hospital.
The young woman was allegedly abducted by four men (two others are still fleeing) on Thursday; her relatives also alleged that they forced her to consume a poisonous substance that led to her death.
An FIR (first information report) submitted by a family member said that he left his home around 3.30pm and returned at 5.15pm, when he told his parents about the rape and assault.
The FIR also said that the girl was rushed to a hospital but died during treatment.
Meerut police have filed rape and other applicable charges, but have also confirmed the recovery of a suicide note from the girl’s home. Every possible angle is being investigated, police said.
“As soon as we received a complaint, we registered a case and went to the scene. We found a suicide note at the girl’s house, which names a man named Lakhan and others. Two defendants have been arrested. The main defendant – Lakhan: I used to go to a tuition class with the girl, “said Kumar.
The young woman’s death has also sparked a political row in a state that has been harshly criticized for a gruesome series of violent crimes against women and girls.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, suggesting he spends more time preventing crimes in his state than campaigning for the BJP in others.
“The news of the kidnapping, gangrape and poisoning of a student in Sardhana (Meerut) of Uttar Pradesh is extremely sad … pracharakji (star activist) has some free time … please consider this as well. Many women have been tortured … “Yadav tweeted in Hindi.
.
