Noida Cyber Cafe Assault Leads to Arrest of Three Accused
In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, three men were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a violent attack on a cyber cafe owner in Noida's Ecotech 3 area. The arrest follows allegations of assault and theft of Rs 50,000 that occurred last week, with the victim further claiming an attempted extortion of Rs 5 lakh, though police have dismissed this latter accusation as "baseless".
Violent Confrontation Captured on Video
According to Additional DCP Santosh Kumar, the altercation erupted on January 22 at a local cyber cafe, stemming from a dispute between two groups over the preparation of a marksheet. A video of the incident, which has been widely circulated on social media and accessed by media outlets, provides a chilling glimpse into the violence.
The footage shows a group of youths mercilessly beating a man behind the main desk of the cafe. In one particularly harrowing sequence, a person from the group is seen grabbing the cafe owner by his collar and forcefully dragging him towards the front of the desk. The victim is then pushed to the other side, where other assailants continue to manhandle him. Minutes later, another individual from the group is observed kneeling down, apparently searching for something beneath the desk, adding to the chaos of the scene.
Victim's Harrowing Account and Police Response
In his formal police complaint, the cafe owner, Manish Kushwaha, detailed a terrifying ordeal. He alleged that the accused posed as STF and police officers, forcibly dragged him out of his establishment, and abducted him in a car. Kushwaha claimed that approximately Rs 50,000 was stolen from the shop during the incident.
Furthermore, Kushwaha stated that the men took him to an undisclosed location, where their so-called "leader" demanded a hefty sum of Rs 5 lakh. According to his account, he managed to escape from the captors on his own. However, the police have countered this narrative, explicitly labeling Kushwaha's claims regarding the extortion attempt as unfounded.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the case. The three arrested individuals have been charged in connection with the fight and have subsequently been sent to jail. Police efforts are now concentrated on tracing and apprehending the remaining unidentified accused involved in this brazen attack.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety and security in urban areas like Noida, underscoring the challenges faced by small business owners. The swift arrest of the three accused demonstrates police action, yet the conflicting accounts between the victim and authorities leave several questions unanswered as the investigation continues to unfold.
