A 19-year-old Bachelor of Arts student was allegedly raped by an unidentified man while his accomplice stood guard as she went to relieve herself at a secluded spot near Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Uttar Pradesh's Agra district on Saturday afternoon. Later that night, police arrested one of the accused following an encounter.
Complaint and FIR
The survivor reached the Fatehpur Sikri police station, lodged a complaint, and recorded her statement. An FIR was registered under sections 70(1) (gang rape) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police Action and Encounter
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Agra West) Aditya stated, "Multiple teams were formed to crack the case. Later in the night, an encounter broke out between police and the two accused. One of the accused, Kasim alias Mirchi (25), a resident of Fatehpur Sikri, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday after being shot in the left leg. The main accused, Sanjay Qureshi, escaped."
Station House Officer Anand Veer Singh confirmed that Kasim had previously been jailed for murder and was out on bail at the time of the incident. Kasim was taken to the community health centre for treatment. A separate FIR was filed regarding the encounter under BNS Section 109(1) (attempt to murder) and the Arms Act.
Historical Context of Crimes in the Area
This incident comes nearly nine years after a Swiss couple, Quentin Jeremy Clerc and Marie Droz, were attacked near Fatehpur Sikri by four local youths. Clerc sustained a skull fracture and nerve damage, while Droz suffered multiple broken bones. The case drew national attention, with then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj seeking a report and officials visiting the couple at AIIMS Delhi.
Though not as famous as the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri attracts many visitors. Once the Mughal capital from 1572 to 1585, the region has witnessed several tourism-related crimes. In 2014, a German woman was allegedly molested by a hotel manager in Agra, and in 2007, two Japanese tourists were gang-raped.
