Agra: The 9-year-old member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) accused the Agra Police of refusing to file her complaint against her neighbour, who is alleged to have molested, abused, and beaten her, due to his acquaintance with the police. The police only filed the complaint when her co-workers gathered at the police station and compelled them to do so.
According to the victim's account, she waited for two hours at the police station while the assault video went viral. In a display of solidarity, several ABVP members rallied at the police station and compelled the authorities to file the FIR, she said.
The police have since taken action, arresting the father of the main accused, as he was also implicated in the woman's complaint. The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempts to murder, molestation, voluntarily causing hurt, and the use of foul language.
The incident unfolded around 2:30 pm on Sunday as the woman returned home after attending a national student day program organized by the ABVP. According to the victim's statement, the accused, who had allegedly been stalking her for days, attempted to molest her on the street near her residence.
Despite her resistance, he forcefully pushed her down and repeatedly attacked her with his legs. Shockingly, eyewitnesses failed to intervene, and the accused's parents allegedly encouraged his unruly behaviour towards the victim.
This distressing episode marks the second incident in just four days, shedding light on the perceived negligence of the Agra police in cases involving crimes against women. On July 6, a 17-year-old girl tragically died by suicide in the same area, allegedly due to the police's lack of action in a molestation case that was reported four months prior.
The girl's father accused the police of apathy, claiming that they failed to act on the FIR filed in February after the crime occurred in January. The police finally made arrests shortly after the suicide, but the delayed response has sparked outrage within the community. As a result, the Agra police have meted out punishment by sending four police personnel to the police lines in connection with the incident.