Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – On Sunday, Samajwadi Party leader and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said police in Uttar Pradesh were being pressured by the BJP government to help the ruling party, and that this interference is driving more rape cases and other crimes against women.
Yadav spoke at a press event about a recent gang‑rape incident involving a student in Lucknow. He condemned the police policy of shooting at suspects’ legs during “encounters” and said that such tactics only put victims at risk.
This is not the first time Yadav has pointed to a rise in sexual violence under the current BJP rule. He told reporters that women’s safety is deteriorating, with more and more incidents in the state each year. “The police are not allowed to do their job properly and are being used for political purposes,” Yadav said.
The incident that sparked Yadav’s comments began around 5 p.m. on Saturday when police received a call from a student’s father reporting a gang‑rape at Harauni Railway Station. In the subsequent police operation, two suspects fled when they were stopped by officers. One of them, Lalit Kashyap, was injured when police opened fire. Authorities say Kashyap is one of the accused in the gang‑rape case. A third suspect was already in custody, and police are still looking for the second suspect.
“We have filed an FIR and launched an investigation,” said DCP South Lucknow, Nipun Agrawal. “The accused are under arrest and we are following the case closely.”
Yadav also referenced an NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) report that highlights wide‑scale insecurity for women in Uttar Pradesh. He accused the BJP of trying to hide its failures over its nine‑year tenure. “Most incidents of harassment and injustice keep happening,” Yadav added. He said corruption pervades every department that is meant to serve the people, and that the government is not protecting its citizens.
The police continue to investigate the gang‑rape case, while political leaders in Uttar Pradesh weigh in on the issue of women’s safety, corruption, and police independence.
Source: aninews
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