Three Arrested for Alleged Abduction and Sexual Assault of Minor Girl During Janmashtami in Muzaffarnagar
A 14-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted while on her way to a temple during Janmashtami celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district. Police have arrested three accused—Mohd Sameer, Mohd Waleen, and Mohd Salman—in connection with the case. The incident has sparked concern in the region due to the victim's age and the circumstances under which the crime allegedly took place.
According to police, the incident occurred on the evening of September 4 in the Chhapar police station area when the girl left her home to visit a local temple for Janmashtami festivities. When she failed to return, her family began searching for her and later found her in a distressed condition at the residence of the main accused, Sameer.
Based on the complaint filed by the family, the girl alleged that she was forcibly taken by the accused and that Sameer sexually assaulted her after taking her to a room in his house. The victim later recounted the incident to her family, who immediately approached the police and submitted a written complaint.
Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Sameer was arrested shortly after the incident, while the other two accused initially evaded arrest.
Following a two-day search operation, police received information that Waleen and Salman were hiding in a forested area near Reta Nangla village. According to the police version, officers attempted to apprehend the suspects and instructed them to surrender. However, the accused allegedly opened fire on the police team, leading to a retaliatory response. Both men sustained injuries to their legs before being taken into custody.
The injured accused were admitted to a hospital for treatment. Police stated that two illegal country-made .315-bore pistols, along with live and spent cartridges, were recovered from their possession. The alleged exchange of fire and the recovered weapons are part of the ongoing investigation.
With the arrest of Waleen and Salman, all three accused named in the case are now in police custody. Investigators are examining witness statements, medical evidence, and other materials to determine the exact sequence of events and the individual roles of each accused.
The case has attracted significant attention as the alleged crime took place during Janmashtami celebrations while the minor girl was reportedly travelling to a temple. Uttar Pradesh Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal later visited the victim's family and assured them that strict action would be taken against those found guilty. The investigation remains ongoing, and the final determination of criminal liability will be made by the court.
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