Saharanpur attack: Kin shifted after ‘pressure’ from accused

“When I complained about it to (harassment) village elders, a panchayat was organised. Anuj slapped Vijay then. The elders intervened and we agreed not to complain about the harassment to the police if they stopped harassing her. They agreed and we thought that would be the end of it,” said Trilok Sharma. Trilok said Vijay and others assaulted Anuj with iron rods on January 6. Later, the family lodged a complaint against five named and two unidentified persons.

“For the last month, we have been under pressure to withdraw our complaint. I informed the police but no one paid attention. Finally, on Saturday, we left the village,” said Trilok. He said they were staying at Ibrahimpur village. Police said they had been trying to convince the family to return. “The family never complained about the harassment. When I went to meet them on Sunday, the family refused to return saying they fear another attack by the accused. I have come to know pradhan and Zila panchayat members too had tried to convince them to return,” said Circle Officer Shiv Raj Singh.

BJP district chief Vijendra Kashyap said he assured them they are with them and they should return home. “I have also promised them that accused would be punished,” he said.