A woman was harassed sexually by multiple males while riding a pillion on a motorcycle in the posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood of Lucknow. The event happened on a drowned roadway. Following the event on Wednesday, eight police officers, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), were punished and four accused perpetrators were taken into immediate custody.
When a video of the attackers dousing the motorbike in water and encircling it became viral on social media, the police were called to the scene. She fell off the bike when one of the attackers touched her amid the confusion. Four teams were assembled to capture the culprits after a formal complaint was filed at the Gomti Nagar police station in response to the public outrage.
Amrendra Kumar Sengar, the commissioner of police in Lucknow, said that CCTV video helped identify two of the people who were arrested: Pawan Yadav and Sunil Kumar. This identification made it easier to find the other suspects, Mohammed Arbaaz and Viraj Sahu. We are conducting raids to apprehend any attackers that may still be out there.
In a significant development, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the incident during the state assembly session, vowing strict action against the culprits. Referring to the offenders by name, he cryptically remarked that a “bullet train” would be run for them, indicating swift legal repercussions. He emphasized that anyone endangering women’s safety would face severe consequences.
Five police officers were suspended for carelessness following the event, including the station in-charge. The DCP and two other senior officials were also relocated. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the accused are charged with major offences such as rioting and assault with the intention of upsetting modesty. Widespread criticism of the event has brought attention to persistent worries about women’s safety in public areas.
