Five Men Allegedly Gang-Rape Dalit Girl in Lucknow; Two Arrested, One Injured in Police Encounter
LUCKNOW: In a horrifying incident that has once again exposed the grim realities of gender and caste-based violence, a young Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by five men in Lucknow on Saturday after they brutally assaulted her male companion.
The assault occurred in a garden where the girl and her friend were sitting and talking.
According to police reports, a group of five men approached the couple, questioned them for being together in the garden, and soon began to hurl abuses and assault the girl’s male friend.
They beat him mercilessly and chased him away. Once he fled the scene, the assailants allegedly dragged the girl to a secluded corner and sexually assaulted her before fleeing.
The deeply shaken girl returned home and confided in her sister, who immediately informed their father. The family then complained to the Lucknow Police later in the evening. A case has since been registered, and the investigation has been taken up on priority.
Two Suspects Arrested, One Injured in Encounter
By Saturday evening, police had apprehended two of the five accused. One of them, Lalit Kashyap (33), was shot in the leg during what authorities described as an “encounter” when he allegedly opened fire on a police team that tried to stop him.
Kashyap, who reportedly has three prior criminal cases against him, was admitted to a hospital, where his condition is said to be stable.
The second arrested suspect has been identified as Miraj (23). According to Nipun Agarwal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lucknow), a police team spotted two men riding a motorcycle near the crime scene.
When signaled to stop, the men allegedly fired at the officers. In retaliatory fire, Kashyap was injured, while his associate managed to escape.
A separate police team arrested Miraj from a nearby area shortly afterward. Police recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges, and the motorcycle used during the crime.
Search On for Remaining Accused
Law enforcement agencies have launched multiple raids to trace the remaining three fugitives. Police said all five accused were acquainted with each other and that the arrested men had confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Meanwhile, the medical examination of the survivor is being conducted, and her statement is expected to be recorded before a magistrate.
A senior police officer involved in the case said, “We are taking the matter very seriously. Teams have been formed to track down the remaining accused and ensure swift justice for the victim.”
The case has sparked outrage in Lucknow and beyond, drawing renewed attention to the safety of women and the vulnerability of marginalized communities, particularly Dalits, in the face of systemic indifference and rising crimes against women.
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