The family of a Dalit woman who was brutally killed in Meerut, allegedly by a group of upper-caste men, has accused the Uttar Pradesh police and the BJP of shielding the main accused and cutting them off from the outside world.
Speaking to reporters outside his village on Wednesday, the eldest brother of the abducted woman said the police were deliberately protecting Paras Som, the prime accused in the case. “In Uttar Pradesh, criminals are killed in encounters, but Paras Som was not even touched. Everyone in the village knows he killed my mother and abducted my sister. Putting him in jail is just an eyewash,” he said.
He alleged that a conspiracy was underway to help the accused escape strict punishment. “While being taken to court, he was allowed to speak to the media and claim that he is a minor. This is a planned attempt to save him, even though the whole village knows he is around 25 years old,” the brother said.
The family also alleged that heavy police presence around their house was not meant for protection but to isolate them. “Paramilitary forces have been deployed outside our home. All entry points to the village have been blocked and six CCTV cameras have been installed around our house. At first we thought it was for our safety, but now it feels like they want to stop us from talking to anyone,” he said.
According to the family, the incident took place on the morning of January 8 when Paras Som and his associates attacked the woman with axes as she was going to her fields with her daughter. The woman was killed on the spot and her daughter was abducted.
Another brother of the abducted woman said eyewitnesses had named four people in the crime. “Paras Som, his friend Sunil Som and two others were involved. The police arrested Paras and Sunil but have done nothing to catch the other two accused. Now Paras is playing the age card on the advice of politicians,” he alleged.
The police arrested Paras Som from Haridwar and rescued the woman on the night of January 10. After her statement was recorded before a magistrate, she was sent back home.
While being produced in court, Paras Som told reporters, “I am a minor and I have documents to prove it. My Aadhaar card and school certificate will show this.”
Meerut jail superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said the accused had claimed to be a minor. “He has said he should be sent to a child remand home. We have asked him to present these claims before the court,” he said.
Circle Officer Ashutosh Kumar said security forces were deployed only to maintain law and order. “The main accused has not submitted any proof of being a minor so far,” he said.
The case has triggered political reactions across the state. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said his party was closely monitoring the situation. “We are with the victim’s family at every step,” he said. Yadav had earlier sent Rs three lakh as financial assistance to the family.
The killing sparked protests by Dalit groups and opposition parties, with demands for the immediate arrest of all accused and action against their properties. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called the incident “extremely heartbreaking and shameful” and urged the government to take crimes against women seriously.
The incident has also led to clashes between opposition leaders and the administration after several political delegations were stopped from visiting the victim’s village, even as BJP leaders were allowed access.
