Pilibhit Court Directs Police to Book Five Men in Teen Molestation Case
A court in Pilibhit has issued a crucial order. The Additional District and Sessions Judge directed local police to register a formal case against five men. These individuals face serious allegations. They are accused of wrongfully restraining, molesting, and attempting to rape a 16-year-old Dalit girl.
Incident at a Village Fair
The horrifying incident occurred on the night of November 6 last year. The young girl was returning home from a village fair in Pilibhit. According to the complaint, the five accused men allegedly stopped her. They then subjected her to molestation and attempted rape.
The victim's brother provided a harrowing account. "My sister screamed for help," he stated. "Some local residents heard her cries and rushed to the spot. They managed to rescue her. The accused men fled when people arrived, but not before issuing a threat. They threatened to rape her in the future."
The accused are young men, aged between 19 and 24 years.
Allegations of Police Mismanagement
The brother's narrative took a disturbing turn when he described approaching the police. He told the court that officers at the police station acted improperly. Instead of registering a case against the alleged perpetrators, the police took his and his sister's thumb impressions on blank papers.
"The police did not take legal action against the real accused," the brother alleged. "Instead, they charged my two cousins. They booked them under BNS sections 126 for wrongful restraint and 135 for assault used to wrongfully confine a person. My cousins were sent to jail."
Frustrated by the local police's response, the brother escalated the matter. He sent a fresh complaint via registered post to the Superintendent of Police. He received no response. This lack of action forced him to seek the court's direct intervention.
Court Orders Lead to FIR
Following the court's directions, the police have now registered a case. Station House Officer Brijveer Singh confirmed the action on Wednesday. "In compliance with the court's orders, we have booked the five named accused," SHO Singh said.
The charges are severe. The FIR includes BNS sections 126(2) for wrongful restraint, section 74 for using criminal force against a woman to outrage her modesty, section 3(5) for a criminal act done by several persons with common intention, and section 351(3) for criminal intimidation.
Missing Legal Provisions Raise Concerns
However, the complainant has raised a significant objection. He alleges that the police failed to include crucial sections in the First Information Report. Despite his sister being a minor and facing caste-based abuse, appropriate sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are absent from the FIR.
"My sister was assaulted and insulted with caste-based slurs," the brother stated. "Yet, the police did not invoke the SC/ST Act or the POCSO Act."
When questioned about this omission, SHO Brijveer Singh offered an explanation. "The appropriate provisions will be added," he said. "This will happen once the police receive official documents verifying the girl's exact age and her caste certificate."
This case highlights ongoing concerns about police responsiveness and the protection of vulnerable communities in Uttar Pradesh. The court's intervention was necessary to initiate legal proceedings, underscoring the challenges victims often face in seeking justice.
