Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Ayodhya gang-rape accused Moeed Khan has been subjected to further severe measures by the Uttar Pradesh government of Yogi Adityanath, following the demolition of his illegal bakery. On 22nd August, the authorities destroyed a third of his shopping complex, which was constructed unlawfully on public property.
A team of district administration drove up with bulldozers to the shopping centre located in Bhadarsa town at around 11 AM. The complex including banks and other businesses housed in the mall was vacated before the action. Notably, the perpetrator is a close associate of Samajwadi Party leader and Ayodhya Lok Sabha MP Awadhesh Prasad.
#WATCH | Ayodhya gang-rape incident | Police and administration carry out demolition drive at shopping complex owned by accused SP leader, for illegal construction. pic.twitter.com/r9TXr7Lidw
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2024
The victim has undergone medical termination of her pregnancy at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow and has since moved to a residence in Bhadarsa town with her family. Meanwhile, security has been strengthened to safeguard her. She and her family have been under constant threat, therefore the officials informed that over thirty well-armed and prepared police officers, including female constables, have been strategically stationed around the clock to assure their protection.
Moeed Khan and his employee Raju Khan are accused of gang-raping a 12-year-old Other Backward Class (OBC) girl in Ayodhya and recording the incident to use as blackmail against her for more than two months. The victim’s pregnancy-related health problems brought the crime to light. The filing of the First Information Report was delayed. Since 2012, the police station has been housed on Moeed Khan’s land. Arrests were made following public outcry and an investigation into the matter is currently underway.
Police Station In-Charge Ratanlal Sharma and Outpost In-Charge Akhilesh Gupta have been suspended by the Yogi Adityanath government. An official complaint has been lodged against Bharatkund Bhadarsa Nagar Panchayat President Mohammad Rashid Khan, another SP leader. According to the complaint, he and his aides issued death threats to the minor rape victim. “With the intention of killing the rape victim, Mohammad Rashid, along with Jai Singh and an unknown person, reached near the room of the women’s district hospital at 11 pm on Thursday (August 1, 2024).” The complaint mentioned that he had already intimidated the victim in her home.
Government lands and ponds have been illegally occupied by Moid Khan. Furthermore, he is charged with taking over the land belonging to multiple Dalit families. In a letter to the District Magistrate, Bajrang Dal stated that Janaki Prasad, a Dalit, possesses plot numbers 1675 and 1676, and Moeed’s bakery in Bhadarsa Bhahar was also situated on this land. A high-level probe of his possessions and activities, as well as those of Ratanlal Sharma, were demanded by the outfit.
