THE UTTAR Pradesh Police are collecting information and identifying members of a group of young men belonging to a particular community that is allegedly targeting and harassing young women and girls spotted with men of other communities in public places such as parks.
Police said on Wednesday that the group members allegedly approach girls in public when they are seen with youths purportedly from another community, confront them in a manner that makes them uncomfortable and record videos while making comments about “modesty”. These videos are later uploaded on social media, often accompanied by objectionable language.
The group, which identifies itself as ‘Haidri Dal Bareilly’ on social media, came under the radar of the Bareilly police over three weeks ago, after a video surfaced online.
Bareilly Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya said they had earlier received information that a group of youths was harassing girls seen in public with men from other religions. Most of the time, by the time police reached the spot, the youths had already fled after recording videos and making remarks.
A case was registered in the matter at the Kotwali police station by police. The police have ensured that the videos have been deleted from social media.
He added that the police were eventually able to track down the group and have so far arrested five of its members—all in their 20s. Four youths were arrested about two weeks ago, while the fifth was taken into custody yesterday. Police said they are making arrests as the identities of the accused are revealed.
During investigation, police discovered that another group had created an Instagram ID under the name ‘Haidri Dal 25’ and was also engaging in similar activities.
The SSP said the fifth accused was operating an Instagram account under the name ‘Haidri Dal 25’. He had created the instagram account.
Police also found that the group was collecting funds from its members, with the money being deposited into two bank accounts, both of which have now been seized, said SSP.
On June 7, the police received information about a video circulating on social media. Upon verification, they found that the video had been shared on Instagram through an account whose bio mentioned ‘Haidri Dal Bareilly’.
The video appeared to have been recorded at Gandhi Udyan, a public park. In it, a few young men from a particular community are seen stopping girls from their own community who were in the company of men from another religion. The Muslim men can be heard making remarks about modesty and objecting to the girls interacting with youth of a different faith.
Police said the girls appeared visibly uncomfortable and unsafe in the video.
Based on a complaint filed by sub-inspector Nitin Rana, an FIR was lodged against unknown persons at the Kotwali police station. The case was filed under BNS sections 353 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 196 (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 79 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 126 (Wrongful restraint).
Police identified two of the accused, Sehbaz alias Sufiyan and Sameer Raza, who were allegedly involved in recording the video. They were arrested and sent to jail.
Based on information provided by the arrested persons, police later identified two others who had uploaded the video along with making objectionable comments on it. They were identified as Jaish, a Unani student, and Shanu, an engineering student, said circle officer, Bareilly, Ashutosh Shivam.
On Tuesday, police arrested 20-year-old Nabi Hasan, a local resident studying at a madrasa in Shahjahanpur, who had allegedly created an Instagram ID “Haidari Dal 25.” He was also reportedly involved in unlawful activities, including sharing objectionable and provocative content and spreading misinformation aimed at inciting unrest.
During an inspection of his cellphone, police reportedly found video footage showing Nabi Hasan sexually harassing a minor boy. The police also booked him under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with charges of criminal intimidation and other offences, said a police officer. It was found during investigation that Nabi Hasan had allegedly threatened the victim.
Ashutosh Shivam said they have identified two more persons of the group and efforts are on to trace and arrest them.
All arrested accused are in jail.
Based on information provided by the arrested persons, police later identified two others who had uploaded the video along with making objectionable comments on it. They were identified as Jaish, a Unani student, and Shanu, an engineering student, said circle officer, Bareilly, Ashutosh Shivam.
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