Daijiworld Media Network - Kanpur
Kanpur, Jan 8: A local YouTuber has been arrested while a police sub-inspector is absconding in connection with the alleged abduction and gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in the Sachendi area of Kanpur, police officials said on Wednesday.
The case prompted swift administrative action, with Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal removing Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Dinesh Chandra Tripathi and suspending Sachendi Station House Officer (SHO) Vikram Singh for alleged lapses and distortion of facts in the initial handling of the complaint.
According to police, the victim, a Class 7 dropout, was allegedly abducted in a Mahindra Scorpio around 10 pm on Monday. She was taken to a deserted area near a railway track, where she was sexually assaulted for nearly two hours before being abandoned outside her house in an unconscious state.
Based on the victim’s statement, Sub-Inspector Amit Kumar Maurya and YouTuber Shivbaran Yadav were named in the FIR. Yadav has been arrested, while Maurya is on the run. Four police teams have been formed to nab the absconding officer. The SUV used in the crime, which belongs to Maurya, has been seized.
Investigations revealed that Maurya was present in Sachendi at the time of the incident despite being posted at the Bithoor police station.
The victim’s family alleged a police cover-up, claiming they were initially turned away when they mentioned the involvement of a policeman. The girl’s brother alleged that police seized her mobile phone and prevented her from returning home until her statement was recorded in court.
SHO Vikram Singh was suspended for failing to invoke provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and for allegedly misrepresenting facts in official records.
Deenanath Mishra has been given additional charge of the Sachendi police station, while the investigation has been handed over to Additional DCP (West) Kapil Dev Singh.
The incident has sparked political outrage, with former CPI(M) MP Subhashini Ali meeting the police commissioner and condemning what she termed as “widespread impunity” in crimes against women in the state. Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal assured that the probe is being conducted transparently and that strict action will be taken against all those found guilty.