The police on Sunday arrested one person and booked 13 others in connection with a video shot in Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) that shows a group of men sexually assaulting two women.
After the undated video went viral on social media, a First Information Report was lodged at the Tanda police station under Sections 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code.
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Sec. 66 of IT Act invoked
Section 66 of the Information Technology Act was also invoked in the FIR registered against 14 persons, including Shahnawaz, the main accused.
Shahnawaz, a resident of Kuvakheda village, was later arrested, police said.
The other accused were identified as Naved, Farman, Fazil, Babu, Bhura, Sarfaraz, Jahane Ali, Firoz, Kasim, Rais, Nadeem, Danish, and Saddam.
Hunt for others
The police have formed four teams to search for these accused, the officer said.
Superintendent of Police Rampur Vipin Tada said police personnel were trying to locate the two women who were seen molested and abused in the clip as they had not registered a complaint so far.
“Once we show them the video, they can help us identify and nab the other culprits as well,” Mr. Tada told The Hindu .
In the video, youth are seen blocking the way of two women in a rural location with trees on either side of the path. The men proceed to harass and physically abuse the women. The victims are seen pleading with the men to let them go.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) said the BJP government had failed to check such incidents and under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath the law and order situation had collapsed. “Criminals are fearless and the police administration helpless,” said SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary.
SP president Akhilesh Yadav has instructed its district officer-bearers to submit memoranda at the district collectorate on Monday seeking the intervention of Governor Ram Naik.
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