Ayodhya Gangrape: Yogi’s JCB Action, Akhilesh’s DNA Test Demand & Return Of Mulayam’s ‘Boys’ll Be Boys’ Remark

Bringing up his late father Mulayam Singh Yadav’s infamous rape comment of 2014, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson on Saturday hit out at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav for his demand for DNA test of the accused in the Ayodhya gang-rape case. Saturday also saw Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) trademark bulldozer action, as the Yogi government bulldozed the illegal properties owned by SP leader Moid Khan, an accused in the case.

“A minor girl has been raped, the allegations are against your party leader and you are dogmatically defending him. This is the same DNA that defends rapists of girls by saying ‘boys make mistakes’,” read the post of (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo on X.

Moid Khan, SP’s city president of Bhadrasa, is said to be close to SP MP from Faizabad Awadhesh Prasad. The 12-year-old’s mother said she had faith in UP CM Adityanath and was hopeful that justice would be done. She demanded death penalty for Moid Khan.

THE INCIDENT

Moid Khan, who owned a bakery, and his aide and employee Raju Khan allegedly abused the 12-year-old around three months ago, said police. “Over the next two-and-a-half months, Khan continued to sexually abuse the girl and used a video of the assault to intimidate and threaten her. Khan committed these acts with the assistance of Raju Khan. The situation came to light when the minor was found to be pregnant,” a press issued by the state government stated.

Officials with the UP Police said that the matter, reported in the Bhadarsa town under the Pura Kalandar police station jurisdiction, came to light when the girl’s family sought medical help for her abdominal pain. “A report has been filed against the accused under charges of gang rape and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act following the family’s complaint. Both Moid and Raju were arrested and sent to jail,” said Raj Karan Nayyar, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Ayodhya.

Nayyar said that the survivor’s father had passed away two years ago, leaving her family to be supported solely by the earnings of her mother and sisters who worked as daily wagers.

WHAT MSY HAD SAID

In 2014, then SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, while addressing a rally in UP’s Moradabad, had said, “Ladkiyan pehle dosti karti hain. Ladke-ladki mein matbhed ho jata hai. Matbhed hone key baad usey rape ka naam dey deti hain. Ladko se galti ho jati hai. Kya rape case mein phasi di jayegi? (First girls develop friendship with boys. They when differences occur, they level rape charges. Boys commit mistakes. Will they be hanged for rape).” Mulayam had said his government would try to change such anti-rape laws. Those who level false allegations will also be punished.

UP GOVT’S BULLDOZER ACTION

The Yogi government demolished Moid Khan’s bakery, built on 3,000-square feet of the pond’s land. The bulldozer action came a day after the 12-year-old and her family met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

“Officials with the district administration, along with the local police, reached the bakery in the morning and within no time demolished the bakery, considering it illegal,” said Surendra Singh, a local who hails from Ayodhya.

Done with the bakery demolition, the fleet of JCBs and the administration officials headed towards Ayodhya’s Bhadarsa locality, which happens to be the address of SP leader’s second building. However, the building was spared, with an ultimatum of six days to vacate, when the officers found that the Punjab National Bank (PNB) operational in the building.

Satyendra Singh, secretary, Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA), said the bakery was constructed on the pond’s land, which is why the action was initiated after investigation. “We are also trying to find out other illegal properties owned by the gangrape accused. Action would be initiated accordingly,” said Singh.

SECOND ACTION WITHIN 24 HOURS

The UP government’s trademark bulldozer action is the second action in 24 hours since the minor and his parents met Adityanath, who assured that the guilty would not be spared.

In the first action, soon after the meeting, two policemen, including Station House Officer (SHO) of Pura-kalandar police station Ratan Sharma and Bhadarsha outpost in-charge Akhilesh Gupta, were suspended. Sources with the government said the move came after the rape survivor’s mother spoke to the CM about the alleged delay in the probe.

POLITICS OVER GANGRAPE

Adityanath raised the issue of Moid Khan’s alleged crimes in the Assembly, questioning why no action had been taken against him and asserting that “no culprit would be spared”.

On Saturday, UP minister and Nishad Party president Sanjay Nishad broke down after meeting the girl’s family in Ayodhya. Nishad accused SP leaders of shielding the accused and vowed to protest at the SP office. “Those who chant PDA slogans and pat themselves on the back after winning in Ayodhya seem to have won with the help of these criminals,” Nishad stated, demanding Khan’s expulsion from SP.

SP chief Yadav demanded DNA test of the accused in Ayodhya rape case. “In the case of misdeeds, the way for justice should be found by getting DNA tests done of the accused, and not by merely making allegations and doing politics. Whoever is guilty should be given full punishment according to the law, but if the allegations are proved false after the DNA test, then the government officials involved should also not be spared. This is the demand of justice,” read his post on X.

Former UP CM and BSP chief Mayawati backed the “strict action” taken by the UP government against the accused and said that it was “justified”. She also came down heavily on Yadav. While taking to her X handle, she expressed concern over the growing incidents of crimes against women in UP.