FIR against BJP leader, kin of Ex-PM Chandrashekhar's son, for threatening Dalit scholar
Ballia (UP) (PTI): A BJP leader closely associated with former prime minister Chandrashekhar's son Neeraj Shekhar has been booked for allegedly threatening a Dalit research scholar from Lucknow University, police here said on Tuesday.
According to police, the FIR was lodged late Monday night at Ubhaon Police Station on the complaint of Deepak Kannaujia, a native of Turtipar village.
Police said that in his complaint, Kannaujia, a scholar at the Lucknow University, alleged that BJP leader Alok Singh called him on May 21 and abused him and threatened to kill him.
"Record this conversation if you want. I am not afraid of the administration or the law and order in Uttar Pradesh," Alok Singh said, according to the complaint.
BJP's Bilthara Road area president Arun Kant Tiwari confirmed that Alok Singh is affiliated with the BJP and is a close relative of Neeraj Shekhar.
Kannaujia alleged that Alok Singh had a longstanding political enmity with his family.
He said his father, Kamlesh Kannaujia, died of a heart attack on October 31 last year due to the stress caused by repeated harassment. He said he was afraid Alok Singh might get his mother, who lives alone in the village, killed.
Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh told PTI on Tuesday that an audio clip related to the incident had recently gone viral on social media.
A preliminary inquiry was conducted by Rasra Circle Officer Alok Gupta, after which Alok Singh was booked under sections 352 (intentional insult) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the BNS, and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
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NCW chief condemns rape-murder of 4-year-old girl in Pune, calls for swift action
New Delhi (PTI): National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has condemned the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Pune, calling it "deeply distressing" and a "blot on humanity".
The girl was allegedly raped and killed by a 65-year-old labourer, who has a criminal record, in Bhor tehsil of Pune on Friday. The accused allegedly lured the child to a cattle enclosure on the pretext of giving her food. After raping her, he killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to police.
The accused has been arrested.
In a post on X on Saturday, Rahatkar said the incident in the Nasrapur area in Pune was heartbreaking and has shaken society.
"The brutal torture and murder of a four-year-old innocent girl in Nasrapur (Bhor, Pune) is deeply painful, heartbreaking, and shocking. It is a blot on humanity," she said.
She said Pune Rural police has arrested the accused and noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar have assured strict action in the case.
Rahatkar said the NCW has taken cognisance of the matter and written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), requesting the body to ensure necessary and prompt action.
It has also been recommended that the case be pursued under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and be closely monitored from the filing of the chargesheet to proceedings in a fast-track special court to ensure time-bound justice, she added.
Ensuring justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the accused is a collective responsibility, the NCW chairperson underlined.
In a post on X, the NCW said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the extremely "heinous" incident.
"This heinous crime causes profound pain and outrage, and it highlights serious concerns regarding the safety of young girls," it said.
Strongly condemning this grave "inhuman act", the NCW said such crimes constitute a serious violation of children's rights and raise questions about society's security system.
