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Cleric at Lucknow madrasa held for sexual assault

Feb 22, 2024 06:24 AM IST

His brother, also a co-accused in the crime, at large; victim’s mother also held after FIR registered against the accused on the complaint of the girl’s father, say police

LUCKNOW: A 35-year-old cleric was arrested on Wednesday and a search launched for his brother in connection with the alleged gang rape of an eight-year-old girl inside a madrasa in Lucknow for several months, police said.

The brothers were booked under Section 376D (gang rape) of the IPC and Pocso Act. The victim was raped multiple times, said Suresh Singh, SHO, Malihabad police station. (Pic for representation)
The brothers were booked under Section 376D (gang rape) of the IPC and Pocso Act. The victim was raped multiple times, said Suresh Singh, SHO, Malihabad police station. (Pic for representation)

The survivor’s mother, police added, was also arrested for allegedly allowing the two accused to rape the minor.

The police action came after a complaint by the minor’s father, who works in Oman but learnt about the incident after he returned to India a month ago.

According to deputy commissioner of police (West) Vishwajeet Srivastava, the girl’s father said the cleric, identified as Mohammad Abedin, and his brother, Arshad, belonged to Hardoi but taught at a madrasa in Lucknow.

The two accused, according to the survivor’s father, would often visit his house. When he left for Oman five to six months ago, he asked the accused to take care of his family, Srivastava said.

“The father said that in his absence, Abedin made frequent visits to the house and began an affair with the former’s wife.

The mother and her daughter gradually started living in the madrasa where the accused taught. At the madrasa, Abedin and Arshad repeatedly raped the minor with the mother’s consent,” Srivastava said.

The girl’s father said he learnt about the incident after he returned to India a month ago to meet her.

“Whenever my daughter complained to her mother about the madrasa teacher, she would beat her,” he said.

Suresh Singh, station house officer (SHO) at Malihabad police station, said the two accused were booked under section 376D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

“The survivor was raped multiple times,” Singh said.

Srivastava said the survivor’s mother was arrested under section 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code.

“While the girl’s mother and Abedin have been arrested, Arshad continues to be at large,” he said.

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