Man arrested for raping teenager in Ghaziabad; 250 people charged with vandalism in connection with crime

The incident sparked violent protests by locals and some right-wing groups that lasted two days.

Ghaziabad: Ghaziabad police announced on Friday, August 30, that they had arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in Ghaziabad. Around 250 other people were charged with vandalism and arson following the crime.

The accused, identified as Faizan, allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in an area below Link Road police station on Wednesday during a power outage after entering her house through the back door.

The incident sparked violent protests by locals and some right-wing groups that lasted two days.

“The accused Faizan was arrested for rape. He entered the house and drugged her after which she became unconscious and he took advantage of her,” DCP Trans Hindan Nimish Patil said, adding that police also arrested around 250 miscreants for vandalising shops and burning an e-rickshaw in Brij Vihar Colony on Thursday.

They were charged under sections 191 (2) (sedition), 191 (3) (sedition with deadly weapons) and 121 (intentionally causing hurt to a government official) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to police, the medical examination confirmed that the girl was raped by a man.

However, in an attempt to stoke tensions within the community, some troublemakers began spreading rumors that it was a gang rape, police reported.

According to a complaint filed by a relative of the victim, three to four people entered the girl's house through the back door on Wednesday around 6 p.m. when there was a power outage.

To calm the situation, there is a large police presence in the area, the official said.

“The accused has been sent to jail under Section 64 of the BNS and POCSO Act,” DCP Patil said.