A Muslim cleric named Mohammad Ahmed (Mohammad Afzal as per some reports) has been arrested for molesting a 9-year-old girl. According to reports, the accused used to teach Quran and Urdu language to the victim at her home. He was appointed at the post of Muajjin at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and used to read namaz inside a mosque in the University.
Mohmmad Ahmed, a cleric at a mosque inside Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) premises was arrested for molesting a 9-year-old girl. Akash Kulhari, SSP Aligarh, says,”a woman filed a complaint that her daughter was sexually harassed by the cleric. He has been arrested.” pic.twitter.com/KdCbQI8chL
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The accused had allegedly threatened the victim and raped her. When the minor girl’s mother came to know about it she filed a complaint against the accused on the Tehsil day. A Tehsil day is a sort of grievance redressal day that is organised in Uttar Pradesh on the first and the third Tuesdays every month to solve the problems of the local people from 10 am to 2 pm. This is presided by the District Magistrate while other officials from various departments are also present.
According to reports, the cleric has admitted to committing the crime while talking to media. He said that he used to go to teach her, when some harassment happened by him. He admitted that he molested the girl four-five times.
Ahmed said that he gives the call for Azaan from the Mosque inside the University campus, and also reads the Namaaz when the Imam is not present.
AMU officials informed that the cleric has been removed from his post after the incident. They also said that he was not a permanent employee of the university, and he was appointed on a temporary basis as the Imam of the mosque was on leave. The cleric used to go outside the campus for tuition where the crime took place, they said.
The police have registered a case against the accused under sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and under the provisions of the POCSO Act. An investigation has been initiated in the matter. SSP Akash Kulhari confirmed the matter and said, “A woman filed a complaint that her daughter was sexually harassed by the cleric. He has been arrested”.
Last month, an incident of rape of a 16-year-old girl by a Maulvi in a Madarsa in Kanpur was also reported. The victim was a student at the Madarsa where the accused Maulvi used to teach.
