Uttar Pradesh: Dalit minor abducted and assaulted in Bareilly; Out of four accused, Rashid and his father arrested

In Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, a distressing case of Dalit oppression has emerged, involving the kidnapping and attempted rape of a minor Dalit girl by four individuals from the Muslim community. The incident, which occurred on May 20, 2024, saw the victim being abducted at gunpoint. The family members who attempted to rescue her were subjected to caste-based abuses and death threats from the accused.

The incident took place in the Deoraniyan police station area. The victim’s father filed a complaint at the police station on May 22, 2024, detailing the harrowing events.

According to the complaint, the 16-year-old victim was en route to her uncle’s house around 11:30 PM on May 20 when she encountered Rashid on the way. He brandished a gun, forcing her to accompany him to a garden where he molested her and attempted to rape her. Rashid had also summoned his accomplices, Ashfaq and Nanne, Ishaq’s son, to the location.

The accused allegedly attempted to take the victim to another location, with Rashid’s father, Nanhe, arriving at the scene and urging the accused to move the victim quickly. The victim’s family, noticing her prolonged absence, began searching for her, eventually locating her with the help of the police after dialling the emergency number.

Upon seeing the victim’s family, the accused became enraged and resorted to using casteist slurs against them. They threatened to kill the family if they took any action. Before fleeing the scene, Rashid brandished his gun at the victim’s father, warning him against speaking out.

The police have arrested two of the accused and are actively searching for the remaining two. The case is currently under investigation.