Tension gripped Uttarakhand’s Nainital after a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an elderly man belonging to another community. The incident, which happened on April 12, came to light on Wednesday, triggering widespread outrage.
The 73-year-old accused, identified as Mohammad Usman, has been arrested. The survivor underwent a medical examination on Thursday, police said.
According to the FIR, Usman lured the girl, who was on her way back home from the market, by offering her Rs 200. He also offered to drop the girl at her house in his car.
However, the accused raped the girl at knife point. The girl narrated the incident to her family, following which a police complaint was filed.
After the incident came to light on Wednesday night, members of the Hindu community took to the streets and demanded swift action against the accused.
The protests continued on Thursday. Workers of a right-wing organisation threw stones at a local mosque and thrashed a few members of the Muslim community. Shops were also vandalised.
The tensions escalated after a huge crowd of protesters reached the local police station and engaged in a scuffle with the cops. The mob accused the police of negligence and not promptly pursuing the matter.
Ruckus also erupted in a few places at the popular hill station, but the police defused the situation.
Heavy security has been deployed in the area in view of the escalating situation. The house of the accused, Usman, has been barricaded to keep it from being attacked by protestors.
CIVIC BODY ISSUES NOTICE
The Nainital Municipal Council has issued a notice to the accused, Usman, to remove illegal encroachment.
“During the inspection by the administrative team, it was found that you (Usman) had encroached upon the land of the municipality/forest, which is against the rules. Remove the illegal encroachment within three days, otherwise legal action will be taken by the administrative team,” a notice served by the Nainital Municipal Council read.
