Meerut: Protests erupted in Kapsad village in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district on Friday following the murder of a Dalit woman and the alleged abduction of her daughter by a 22-year-old man.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning, January 8, when Sunita Jatav and her 20-year-old daughter were walking toward their fields. They were intercepted near a canal by the accused, identified as Paras, who works as a compounder for a local doctor. Police said the accused misbehaved with the women, and when the mother objected, he allegedly struck her on the head with a sickle and forcibly took her daughter away.
Villagers rushed to the scene after hearing Sunita’s cries and took her to a hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The incident sparked protests at the hospital, with activists and members of the Bhim Army demanding Paras’s immediate arrest. The demonstrations led to brief clashes with the police. Sunita’s body was handed over to her family after a postmortem.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Paras and the 20-year-old woman were acquaintances from the same village. Initially, the family refused to perform the last rites, demanding the arrest of Paras and the safe return of the missing daughter. After several hours of negotiations with the administration, the mother was cremated late Friday evening.
Senior officials, including SSP Vipin Tada, were present during discussions with the family and villagers. The SSP confirmed that a case has been registered under stringent provisions against two accused individuals based on the family’s complaint.
Five police teams, led by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), have been formed to apprehend the accused and ensure the daughter’s safe recovery. “More than ten police teams are working across districts to apprehend the accused and secure the girl’s return. Both hail from the same village. We are acting swiftly on all leads,” said SSP Tada.
District Magistrate Dr VK Singh stated that the family has received a cheque of Rs 10 lakh from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office and that the administration is considering granting an arms license for the family’s security. Immediate protection will also be provided, he added, noting that the law and order situation in the area remains peaceful.
While Uttar Pradesh minister Dharmapal Singh directed officials to conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action, Samajwadi Party workers staged protests at Commissary Park demanding the safe return of the abducted girl and the arrest of the accused.
National president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav called the case “grave” and alleged that the BJP government was protecting criminal elements. “Nothing could be worse than having no hope left from the government. The BJP is a completely failed government. Is anyone listening!” he wrote on X.
Former minister Sanjeev Balyan, MLA Atul Pradhan, ex-MLA Yogesh Verma, and former Uttar Pradesh SC/ST Commission Vice-Chair Mukesh Siddharth visited the village on Friday and assured the family of justice.
With PTI inputs