Screengrab/Piyush Rai via Twitter
On April 15, 2022, members of the right-wing group, ‘Dharam Jagran Samanvay Sangh’, allegedly set three houses on fire belonging to the family of the man who eloped with a girl from another community in Agra. The man has been identified as one Sajid, a gym owner in Agra’s Runakta locality as per NDTV.
While setting the houses ablaze, the mob reportedly demanded the arrest of the man accusing him of kidnapping the woman. On the other hand, the woman reportedly recorded four videos that went viral on social media. In one such video, the woman clearly confirmed that she is an adult and had gone willingly with the man. Adding the fact that they are now married she further stated, “Please don’t trouble our family members because of us. I will come and record my statement before court.” In another video she reportedly claims that her parents are insisting her to make false accusations against the man.
According to TOI, a “panchayat” was held on Friday morning and soon after the three houses were set on fire. Senior Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Singh told mediapersons that an FIR has been registered against the 21 identified members of the group including Runakta village Pradhan and a zila panchayat member and over 100 unidentified persons under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy house), 307 (attempt to murder) and section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, as reported by TOI. The SSP further stated that nine people had been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
The family members of the woman have also filed a missing police complaint urging them to conduct a search for the couple.
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