In a significant development following the recent attack on a Hindu girl in Mohalla Khalsa, Kashipur, the administration of Kashipur in Uttarakhand’s Uddham Singh Nagar district executed the demolition of the residence belonging to Fardeen Mohammad, the prime accused in the assault. The action came after authorities discovered during their investigation that Mohammad had constructed his dwelling on government land without authorisation.
The demolition, carried out on Thursday, February 15, under the supervision of tehsildar Pankaj Chandola, was deemed necessary by officials who cited the encroachment on government property as grounds for the action.
The incident that led to these measures occurred three days prior, on Monday, February 12, 2024, when Fardeen Mohammad, along with an accomplice named Rauf, brutally assaulted a 17-year-old Hindu girl named Pooja with a sharp fodder cutter. The victim, who sustained severe injuries in the attack, was ambushed while on her way to a coaching class, prompting public outcry and demands for swift justice.
Fardeen Mohammad, previously arrested in connection with a molestation case filed by Pooja and her family, had been out on bail at the time of the assault. The assailants, undeterred by legal proceedings, targeted Pooja allegedly due to her refusal to withdraw the aforementioned molestation case. CCTV footage capturing the attack facilitated the prompt identification and subsequent arrest of the perpetrators by law enforcement authorities.
A Muslim man named Fardeen attacked a Hindu girl Pooja with a fodder cutting (गंडासा) machine in Kashipur, Uttrakhand.
Pooja’s condition is critical. pic.twitter.com/1DU8fZ62Wj
— Trunicle ट्रूनिकल (@trunicle) February 13, 2024
Following the assault, members of various Hindu organisations rallied at the local police station, urging decisive action against the assailants. The police responded by initiating legal proceedings against Mohammad and his accomplice, with further arrests expected as the investigation progresses.
Notably, Fardeen Mohammad’s family members, including his mother, Baby, and other relatives, allegedly resorted to intimidation tactics, pressuring Pooja’s parents to retract the molestation charges filed against him. This incident underscores a prolonged history of harassment, with multiple cases of molestation and harassment registered against Mohammad dating back to 2019.
In response to these developments, BJP MLA Arvind Pandey assured the victim of support and pledged to pursue justice on her behalf.
#काशीपुर, जनपद उधम सिंह नगर के अंतर्गत कटोरा ताल निवासी युवती पर हुए जानलेवा हमले की सूचना का संज्ञान लिया। काशीपुर अस्पताल में युवती एवं उसके परिवार जनों से मुलाकात कर युवती का हाल-चाल जाना तथा स्वास्थ्य की जानकारी ली।
@NarendraModi | @AmitShah | @JPNadda | @BLSanthosh pic.twitter.com/NQt1L2zC91— Arvind Pandey (@TheArvindPandey) February 12, 2024
The police have, meanwhile, registered a case against Fardeen under IPC sections 147, 307, 323, 354, 452, 504 and 506.
As the investigation into the attack on Pooja unfolds, authorities remain committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for those responsible. The demolition of Fardeen Mohammad’s unauthorised residence serves as a tangible repercussion for his alleged actions and underscores the administration’s resolve in addressing such incidents with firmness and impartiality.
