Haldwani, Uttarakhand: Four men have been taken into custody in Haldwani after a 16-year-old girl’s family alleged that she was threatened, taken to a hotel in the Mukhani area, and sexually assaulted. The case has drawn attention because one detainee, Dheeraj Bisht, had earlier contested an MBPG College students’ union election on an ABVP ticket.
What Happened
The girl’s parents went to Mukhani police station late on November 12 and filed a written complaint. They alleged that four youths threatened and lured their daughter before taking her to Hotel Trishul in Mukhani, where she was sexually assaulted.
Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Manjunath TC said the complaint was treated as a serious matter and an FIR was ordered immediately. “We have taken up this matter as a challenge,” he told ANI.
Police said they examined the hotel premises and CCTV footage during the preliminary investigation. The four accused — Dheeraj Bisht, Nitin Pal, Ansh Khatri and Himanshu Boni — were arrested within six hours of the complaint, and further medical and legal procedures are underway.
ABVP Connection
The ABVP link concerns Bisht alone. He had earlier fought the MBPG College students’ union presidential election on an ABVP ticket, according to police and media reports.
ABVP has said that Bisht does not currently hold any official post or responsibility in the organisation. The group has nevertheless called for a detailed investigation into the role of all four accused, including Bisht.
ABVP Holds Protests
ABVP condemned the alleged assault and held protests in Dehradun and Haldwani on Saturday. Its workers demanded immediate administrative action and the strictest possible punishment for anyone found guilty.
ABVP Uttarakhand State Secretary Yashwant Pawar said, “The incident involving a minor girl in Haldwani is deeply unfortunate and condemnable. No leniency should be shown towards anyone involved in such serious crimes.” He also called for an expeditious and impartial probe into the incident.
Further investigation is on.
