In Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, it has been reported that a Muslim man named Aqeel and his friends have been accused of gangraping a married Hindu woman. The Muslim man allegedly forced the Hindu victim to eat cow meat and made her observe Roza. When the victim objected, the accused brutally assaulted her and threatened to kill her. Along with Aqeel, his mother-father, Khaleel, Sanu, Irfan Intezaar and an unidentified person are said to be involved.
In this matter, an FIR was registered on Monday (12th August) at the Mohanlalganj Police Station in South Lucknow and an investigation has been launched. In her complaint, the victim said that in 2023, she used to work at a private company where her senior named Sanu gave the victim’s phone number to accused Aqeel who also worked there. Aqeel introduced himself as Akhil Yadav and gradually won the victim’s trust.
The victim further stated that on 8th December 2023, accused Aqeel took her to Lucknow’s Kaiserbagh court on the pretext of providing her a job. During this time, one Intezaar Ahmed, Khalil and an unknown person were also present. These people made the victim sign some legal documents. Since the victim was weak in reading-writing, she could comprehend what exactly was written on those papers and signed them. Subsequently, Aqeel and his accomplices took the victim to Aqeel’s house where she was held captive till 17th January 2024.
During this time, the accused Aqeel and his father raped the Hindu woman several times while Aqeel’s mother encouraged the duo to carry out the crime. On 17th January 2024, Aqeel’s father rented a room at some distance from his house and the victim was moved there. In this room, Aqeel, Irfan, Intezaar and another unknown person raped the victim several times. It is alleged that Aqeel also used to charge money in exchange for handing over the Hindu victim to his friends for sexual assault.
The victim also told the police that Aqeel used to rape her daily. He used to force the victim to eat beef [cow meat] and also to keep Roza. When the victim begged for mercy, the accused threatened to kill her, her husband and the entire family. Aqeel told the victim that if she opened her mouth, he would rape other women in the victim’s in-laws’ house. On 2nd July, Aqeel brutally thrashed the victim and threw her out of the house. Later, he went to Ajmer with his friends.
After returning from Ajmer, on 9th August, Aqeel called the victim to meet him in the Mohanlalganj area on the pretext of some urgent work. However, when the victim reached there, Aqeel took her to a deserted garden and raped the victim and forcibly had unnatural sex with her. When she tried to stop him, Aqeel kicked and punched her. In her complaint, the victim has demanded strict action against Aqeel, his mother-father and all the accused friends.
थाना मोहनलालगंज पर सुसंगत धाराओं में अभियोग पंजीकृत है, आवश्यक विधिक कार्यवाही की जा रही है।
— LUCKNOW POLICE (@lkopolice) August 13, 2024
Notably, Lucknow Police has taken cognizance of the victim’s complaint and registered an FIR. The police have booked the accused persons under sections IPC sections 376-D, 420, 342, 323, 377 and 506. OpIndia has a copy of the complaint. Lucknow Police said that investigation and other legal action are being taken in the case.
