Days after Dalit woman killed, daughter abducted in UP, police nab accused, rescue woman

Two days after a 50-year-old Dalit woman was killed and her 21-year-old daughter allegedly abducted in Kapsarh village, in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, police nabbed the two accused from Haridwar on Saturday. Police said the 21-year-old who was allegedly abducted was also rescued.

Addressing the media, Meerut SSP Vipin Tada said: “Two days ago, an incident was reported at Sardhana police station… considering the gravity of the case, over 10 teams were assigned to ensure that the accused were arrested and the woman was rescued. Today, both the accused were arrested from Haridwar with the help of police teams from Meerut and Saharanpur. The woman was also rescued. Further questioning is taking place now.”

According to police, the incident took place on Thursday morning, when Sunita Jatav and her daughter, Ruby, were allegedly stopped in the nearby fields by the accused, Paras Som and Sunil Kumar.

The two women were on their way to the sugarcane fields outside their village for work when they heard someone call out for Ruby, said family members. “Ruby’s mother told her to go ahead while she spoke to them,” alleged Pavitra, a relative.

Police have registered a case under BNS (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita) Sections. (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)

According to the FIR, Paras Som, seemingly annoyed at being ignored, abused Sunita, snatched the sickle she was holding and attacked her. He and his friend, Sunil Kumar, then allegedly abducted Ruby and fled.

Both the accused belong to the Rajput/ Thakur community, police said. In a preventive measure to avoid any caste flare-ups, security was stepped up in the village over the last two days, with police and Rapid Action Force personnel blocking all entry points.

Denied entry into the village, relatives of the Jatav family joined a group of Azad Samaj Party protesters outside the village on Saturday.

Inside the village, in a modest two-floor house, Ruby’s father and three brothers sat surrounded by villagers and political party representatives.

Speaking to The Indian Express earlier in the day, before the police announced her rescue, Ruby’s father, Satendra, said: “My daughter is beautiful…she is tall, like her brothers, and simple… Ab rote rote aansoo khatam ho gaye, lekin meri beti wapas nahi aayi (I’ve cried my eyes out but my daughter hasn’t returned).”

The family said Paras had neither targeted Ruby, nor harassed her before this. “We never went to their house. We never worked in their fields. We never even spoke to them… I don’t know what happened to him that day,” said Kiran, Ruby’s sister-in-law.

Kiran said that while the Thakurs in the village would frequently misbehave with the Dalit children and beat up their men, they never targeted the women. “This is the first time I’ve seen this happen in this village,” said Pavitra.

The family said Ruby was set to get married in April. About a fortnight back, the bridegroom’s family had visited them in the village. “We haven’t told his family what has happened, but I’m sure they must have got to know,” said a family friend.

Police have registered a case under BNS Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 106(1) (murder) and 140(1) (kidnapping or abduction with the intent to murder), along with Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

“Police are investigating the matter in a sensitive manner… We have to keep the safety of the girl as our top priority,” said Udit Narayan, Deputy Collector, Meerut, earlier in the day. “We have heard that the two knew each other and may have been in a relationship. However, these things can only be verified after they are found and questioned,” he said.