On Tuesday, 13th August, a Muslim crowd attacked police in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur area after the authorities went to arrest one Javed who was operating an illicit narcotics network in the village. Women police officers were also targeted in the incident. The FIR filed in this attack charges 32 perpetrators, 31 of whom are identified. The attackers assaulted the police with sticks and stones, as well as throwing stones. The police truck was broken into, and the officers’ uniforms were also ripped off. The attackers include around 6 women.
The accused persons are also said to have put chilli powder in the eyes of the policemen in order to free Javed. The incident took place on Monday (August 12, 2024). The police have arrested a total of 6 accused, including 3 women, involved in this violence. The rest of the attackers are absconding and efforts are being made to search for them.
The incident took place in Ghatampur village under Nakud police station area of Saharanpur district. Sub Inspector Narendra Bhadana posted a complaint at the police station about the incident on Monday. In the complaint, he said that he had received information about absconding drug smuggler Javed being in his village Ghatampur. Inspector Bhadana immediately reached Ghatampur with his team. It was revealed that Javed was sitting in the fields with some other people of the village. Narendra Bhadana immediately called his seniors and asked for extra forces. Till additional forces arrived, he proceeded on foot towards Javed’s possible location.
The information received by Sub-Inspector Bhadana was found to be correct and Javed was caught by the police team. Meanwhile, at around 2:30 in the afternoon, additional forces including women police personnel from the police station also reached Javed’s village. The police team was busy in its legal action when suddenly Javed started shouting loudly and gathering people. Hearing the noise, Ikram from Javed’s village reached there with his friends. Ikram first abused the policemen and later attacked him along with his companions to free Javed.
It is alleged that the crowd that came with Ikram to free drug dealer Javed first attacked the police team with sticks and then pelted stones. When the police force tried to save itself by hiding behind its vehicle, the attackers reached there also. They broke the window panes of the police car. During this, the attackers also tore the uniform of Sub Inspector Narendra Bhadana and tried to free Javed who was in custody. When the policemen resisted, chilli powder was thrown into their eyes.
Chilli powder started irritating the eyes of the policemen. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the opportunity, the mob freed Javed and took him with them. Policemen making videos of the incident were also targeted. Police have named 31 accused in this attack. Their names are Javed, Ikram, Mashroof, 2 different youths named Shahrukh, Israr, Zakir, Iqrar, Gayyur, Farooq, Aamir, Furkan, Qadir, Sukka, Asjad, Aamir, Rakib, Danish, Amjad, Kaif, Waris, Asif, Istikhar, and Saddam Hussein.
Apart from all these male accused, many Muslim women are also named in this case. Their names are Dhauli, Rihanna, Israna, Nargis, Iqra, Anam and Gulshana. One accused has been kept unidentified. On the complaint of Sub Inspector Bhadana, sections 191 (1), 191 (2), 324 (4), 351 (2), 121 (1), 262, 263, of the Indian Justice Code (BNS)- 2023 have been registered against all the accused. Action has been taken under sections 352, 132, 125, and section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1932. OpIndia has the FIR copy.
After this incident, under the leadership of SP Dehat Sagar Jain, police teams were formed to take strict action against the attackers. In a swift raid, 6 attackers were arrested within just 24 hours, including 3 women. The arrested women accused include Haruna, Mehrana, and Shahrin. Along with them, the police also caught Saddam Hussain, Jabir, and Zakir. Continuous raids are being conducted in search of other absconding accused. Police administration says that soon all the attackers will be caught.
Superintendent of Police Dehat Sagar Jain said that video footage and other evidence are being collected to identify the attackers. The arrested accused have been produced in the court and sent to jail. At present the situation in the area is normal.
