BAREILLY: A 14-year-old girl from Bareilly district was allegedly gang-raped by two teenagers at knifepoint, while a neighbour filmed the assault instead of trying to save the girl and later shared the video on social media.
After the clip began circulating, the survivor's father lodged a complaint at the local police station. However, instead of slapping rape charges, police registered the FIR under BNS section 75 (sexual harassment). It was only after the father, a burqa shop owner, filed a complaint on the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's grievance portal on Saturday that the senior superintendent of police (SSP) ordered the addition of rape section and relevant sections of the
Pocso Act and directed a medical examination, following which the girl's statement was recorded on Monday.
Additional SP Mukesh Mishra said the investigation would be impartial. "If any police officer is found supporting the accused, aged 14 (Class 8) and 16 (Class 10), strict action will be taken. Both the teenagers were taken into custody and sent to a juvenile home after questioning," he said.
Meanwhile, station house officer (SHO) Praveen Solanki denied allegations of negligence. "The incident involved a minor girl and appropriate action was taken based on the father's complaint. After the video appeared online, additional charges were added," he said.
The assault took place on Aug 3, when the complainant's landlord's son and his friend allegedly lured the girl to an abandoned building while her father was away at work and gang-raped her. "My daughter stayed quiet out of fear. I learned of the incident from a video recorded by our neighbour, who shared it online instead of helping," the father said.
He also alleged that when he initially filed the complaint, "the sub-inspector altered it and applied lenient sections." He further claimed police "did not send his daughter for medical examination at the time."
The survivor said, "The accused thrashed me and gang-raped me while pointing a knife at me. I want strict punishment for everyone involved, including the person who shot the assault video."
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