Dalit Girl Gang-Raped In Moradabad; One Accused, Salman, Arrested: 'Forced To Eat Beef, Om Tattoo Erased With Acid'

A 14-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped, subjected to torture, and recurrently gang-raped in the Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported on Wednesday (6 March). The police have confirmed the arrest of one suspect in connection to the case.

Sanjay Kumar Panchal, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhagatpur police station, reported that the girl's family claimed in their complaint that she was subjected to severe mistreatment during her captivity.

They alleged that the accused forcibly inked an 'Om' tattoo on her hand using acid, made her eat meat, which various media reports claim to be beef, against her will, and inflicted additional forms of torture on her.

The grievance detailed that the juvenile was allegedly held captive in a room where she was repeatedly gang-raped, as stated by the SHO. He further added that the culprits purportedly intimidated her with threats of murdering her and her family if she revealed the occurrence.

According to the complaint cited in the PTI report, the four suspects—Salman, Zubair, Rashid, and Arif—have been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to a grievance lodged, it was alleged that the complainant's niece was kidnapped on her way to a tailor on 2 January 2025, as reported by the officer. The officer, referencing the complaint, stated that the accused supposedly abducted her in a vehicle and made her unconscious with some form of intoxicant.

"She was later taken to the Bhojpur area and locked in another room, from which she eventually escaped and returned home to her aunt, a few days ago," Panchal was quoted as saying by PTI. The girl's family also alleged that the accused was pressuring them to withdraw the case, the SHO said.

Kunwar Akash Singh, the Rural Police Superintendent, verified that a case has been filed at Bhagatpur police station. He added that Salman, one of the suspects, was taken into custody on Tuesday and later incarcerated. The probe into the matter is still underway.