On 13th December, a video surfaced on social media showing a man, later identified as Mehboob, pulling a minor girl’s hair and beating her in the middle of the road. According to media reports, the incident took place within the jurisdiction of Kithore police station in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. Mehboob was harassing the minor schoolgirl as she was returning home from school.
When the girl protested, Mehboob pulled her hair and beat her up. A few seconds-long video of the incident was recorded by a bystander and later went viral on social media. It drew the attention of the authorities, after which a police case was registered and the accused was arrested.
UP के मेरठ मे कॉलेज से लौटती कक्षा 9 की छात्रा को छेड़छाड़ के बाद सरेआम पीटने की वीडियो वायरल होने के बाद पुलिस ने मनचले महबूब को एनकाउंटर मे अरेस्ट किया है। महबूब की टांग मे गोली लगी है।#viralvideo #Meerut #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/Nma4yhCRtD
— TRUE STORY (@TrueStoryUP) December 14, 2024
The matter, however, did not end there. While the police were taking the accused for a medical examination to CHC hospital, he had the audacity to attempt an escape by snatching the service pistol of a head constable. Reportedly, he ran through the canal track and nearby bushes after jumping off the motorcycle on which he was being transported to the hospital.
#Meerutpolice थाना किठौर क्षेत्रान्तर्गत एक लड़की से छेड़छाड़ व मारपीट करने वाले अभियुक्त को गिरफ्तार कर मेडिकल के लिए ले जाते समय अभियुक्त द्वारा पुलिस कर्मी की पिस्टल छीनकर भागने वाला पुलिस मुठभेड़ गिरफ्तार । #UPPolice #crackdownmeerutpolice pic.twitter.com/LKvftnkTAh
— MEERUT POLICE (@meerutpolice) December 13, 2024
The station-in-charge of Kithore police station, along with his team, immediately initiated a search for him. He was spotted in the bushes, and the police asked him to surrender. Amidst the chaos, Mehboob opened fire at the police, prompting a retaliatory response from the police personnel. Mehboob reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was subsequently apprehended by the police. He was then taken to a hospital for treatment.
मेरठ-नाबालिग छात्रा से सरेआम हुई छेड़छाड़,पिटाई
— भारत समाचार | Bharat Samachar (@bstvlive) December 13, 2024
➡छेड़छाड़ का विरोध करने पर शोहदे ने पीटा
➡स्कूल से लौट रही छात्रा से शोहदा कर रहा था छेड़छाड़
➡छात्रा ने विरोध किया तो शोहदे ने की पिटाई
➡ग्रामीणों ने शोर सुन छात्रा को शोहदे से बचाया
➡छात्रा के परिजनों ने थाने में दी नाम… pic.twitter.com/OLCETef3wn
The victim in the case was a Class 11 student. While returning home, Mehboob, who was a resident of the same village, started harassing her. She resisted, angering him, after which he attacked her. Passers-by intervened and rescued the minor girl. The victim later informed her family, who approached the police station to lodge a complaint.
In a statement, Meerut Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Mishra, said: “A video had gone viral showing a man harassing and troubling a minor girl. Taking cognisance of the video, an FIR was lodged at the concerned police station based on the complaint received. The individual, identified as Mehboob, a resident of the Shahjahanpur police station area, was immediately arrested. Later, while being taken to the CHC for a medical check-up, he snatched a pistol from the accompanying police team and attempted to escape. Subsequently, under the leadership of the SHO, a combing operation was conducted. During the operation, when confronted, he fired at the police party. In retaliatory self-defence firing by the police, the individual sustained injuries. He has been sent for initial medical treatment.”
Uttar Pradesh: Rakesh Mishra, SP Dehat Meerut says, "…A video had gone viral showing a man harassing and troubling a minor girl. Taking cognizance of the video, an FIR was lodged at the concerned police station based on the complaint received. The individual, identified as… pic.twitter.com/z8XUFriVH8
— IANS (@ians_india) December 14, 2024
SP Mishra confirmed that the necessary legal proceedings are being carried out by the concerned police station.