Police ‘free’ accused after crowd gheraos station

BAREILLY: Just a day after a goon’s aides assaulted policemen and got him freed in Badaun, hundreds of supporters of a man arrested in a theft case surrounded a police station in Bareilly and forced cops to release him.
Supporters of the accused, Ghulam Mohd Ghaus, gheraod the Kotwali police station on Tuesday night for over two hours and raising slogans against the police department, demanded his release. They refused to budge until Ghaus was freed.
Sensing the mood of the crowd, policemen were forced to release him, after which the protestors dispersed.
On being asked about the incident, SP, city, Rajeev Malhotra defended the policemen and said the step was taken in line with changes in Section 41 C of CrPC, as per which the police are empowered to release an accused after furnishing a personal bond if he or she is booked for an offence which attracts less than seven years’ imprisonment.
Giving details, police said on Tuesday, Owais Mian had lodged a police complaint stating that he had old enmity with Ghaus and his brother Abdul Rehman. Mian had alleged in his complaint that the duo had broken the lock of his shop in Afsar Khan locality and stolen items worth Rs 15 lakh kept inside.
On his complaint, the Kotwali police had registered a case and raided the house of the two accused, but had failed to find them. However, while returning, they had spotted Ghaus and arrested him.