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‘Girl held against her will’: Bajrang Dal protests at Sambhal house, youth booked
During the search, the father alleged that Ashish Tufani and the village head informed him that his daughter was at the house of a youth in another village.
The Sambhal police sent the girl to a government-run women’s shelter (Image generated using AI).
Tension prevailed at a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district after members of the Bajrang Dal, a right-wing organisation, on Saturday gathered outside the house of a youth from another community, alleging that a 17-year-old girl from their community was being held there against her will.
The girl, who is pursuing graduation, had gone to attend her classes at a coaching institute where the youth also studies, her family said. She went with the youth to his house on his scooter, police said.
The houses of the girl and the youth are nearly 4 km apart, they said.
When members of the right-wing group learned that the girl was in the house, they reached there and created a ruckus, it is learnt. The girl’s family was also informed about the matter.
On receiving information about the incident, a police team rushed to the spot, took the girl into custody and later sent her to a government-run women’s shelter for safety and further procedure.
Based on a complaint filed by the girl’s family, police have registered an FIR on charges of kidnapping against the youth who allegedly took the girl to his house.
In his complaint, the girl’s father, 44, who works in a private firm in Sambhal, said, “My daughter, who is studying in the second semester of her graduation, had gone to attend coaching classes on Saturday but did not return home. Later, I received information about her whereabouts from Bajrang Dal leader Ashish Tufani and others, after which I informed the police about the matter.”
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The police have sent her to the women’s shelter to complete the necessary legal formalities before handing her back to the family, he added.
Though the youth studied with his daughter at the same coaching institute, he had never met him, the complainant said.
The police are conducting raids to trace the youth, said the station house officer of the police station concerned.
The youth’s age is yet to be ascertained, he said.
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According to police, the complainant stated that on Friday at around 8 am, his daughter left home to attend her coaching class. When she failed to return home even after several hours, the family grew worried and began searching for her.
During the search, the father alleged that Ashish Tufani and the village head informed him that his daughter was at the house of a youth in another village.
When contacted, Bajrang Dal’s Sambhal district convenor Ashish Tufani said the organisation had been receiving information that the youth brought a girl from another community to his house.
“On Saturday, we went to the spot after receiving information. I also informed the police about the matter. However, before police arrived, the youth fled from the house. The girl was recovered from the residence,” he said.
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The village has a mixed population, and a police team has been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.
The youth’s family could not be contacted for comments.
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