Another Hathras killing: Molestation accused shoots dead victim's father

Police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested a man accused of killing a 50-year-old who had filed a case of molestation against him for harassing his daughter. The incident happened under Sasni police station of Hathras district.

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The woman’s father, a farmer, was allegedly shot dead by one Gaurav Sharma, who is said to be a Samajwadi Party leader. The incident happened on Monday (March 2) when the man was working in his field. The woman and her mother had gone there with a tiffin box.  Gaurav reached the spot with three of his associates. He asked the man to withdraw the case, registered against him in 2018.

The woman told the police that Gaurav opened fire even before her father could react. He was taken to the district hospital where he was declared dead.

In 2018, the deceased had filed a case against Gaurav for molesting his daughter. He was arrested and then released on bail after a month.

The local police had previously arrested another accused, Lalit Sharma. Rohitash Sharma and Nikhil Sharma have been identified as the other two accused.

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The Indian Express quoted city area circle officer Ruchi Gupta as saying that Gaurav and the deceased man’s daughter were to get married, but the wedding got cancelled for some reason. Gaurav held a grudge against the woman. He once tried to molest her and so was charged under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and put behind bars in July 2018. He later got bail and married another woman, said the police.

On Monday, Gaurav’s wife and the woman came face to face and had an altercation. Police said the incident may have resulted in the killing.