Main accused in Kabbadi player's assault held

Ujala Thakur, the main accused in connection with the assault of national level Kabaddi player Sneha ‘Dolly’ Singh was arrested on Wednesday.

The second accused, Rishi Gandhi, is still absconding.

Two police personnel, also, were penalised for dereliction of duty, police said on Thursday.

While Investigating officer Manoj Pandey has been suspended, Station Incharge of Barra, Manikchandra Patel has been sent to district police lines for slack in investigation, SSP Shalabh Mathur said.

The incident occurred on June 15 near Dolly’s house when the two accused, Ujala Thakur and Rishi Gandhi, misbehaved and tried to molest Dolly but she resisted the attack.

The two accused landed at her house the following day and allegedly beat her with a lathi causing a fractured nose. Her relatives also suffered minor injuries due to the attack.

Though culprits threatened the family from going to the police, Sneha, undeterred, went to the Barra police station and filed a written complaint.

However, according to Sneha, "the police took the complaint very lightly and filed the case under minor sections."

On June 23 Sneha approached SSP Shalabh Mathur with her complaint, after which she was sent for medical tests and an FIR was filed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai, who along with party workers sat on dharna in front of the SSP's residence demanding suspension of police officials called off the agitation at 2am following Mathur's decision.

Shekhar Chauhan, father of Ujala Thakur, alleged that Sneha's parents have made the false allegation after his son refused to accept a marriage proposal from the kabaddi player and their family.

Photograph: Sneha 'Dolly' Singh

Image: Sandeep Pal