As many as 13 people have been arrested and four FIRs registered a day after a mob forced its way into a residential society in Noida on Wednesday, the police said.
The mob had barged into Mahagun Moderne society and vandalised property following allegations of a domestic help being beaten up and held hostage by a family on charges of theft.
CCTV footage used
Noida SP Arun Kumar Singh said, “Four FIRs have been registered after complaints were received from the family of the help, Zohra, her employer, residents of the housing society, and the security personnel. The police arrested 13 people after identifying them on the basis of CCTV footage.”
The officer added that no injuries were found after Zohra was sent for a medical examination. Also, the police say that no evidence was found in support of her version. “We scanned CCTV footage available. On Tuesday night, she stayed at an apartment in the society. According to the footage, she seemed fine when she was taken out of the society. However, she has claimed that she was held hostage and beaten up. Her family has claimed that she was semi-conscious when they saw her on Wednesday,” a senior police officer said.
The maid and her family, meanwhile, have accused the police of one-sided action. “The incident happened after the apartment owner misbehaved. The police picked up people on Wednesday night,” said a relative of Zohra on condition of anonymity.
“We are probing all angles,” the officer said, adding that the police have decided to launch a verification drive for domestic helps. No domestic helps, meanwhile, were allowed to enter the society on Thursday.
