Berasia police station gheraoed to protest blackmailing of girls

Bhopal: Hundreds of members of a right wing organisation gheraoed the Berasia police station on Thursday afternoon, demanding the arrest and strict action against the accused of blackmailing minor girls. The protest lasted for approximately four hours, during which the police managed to maintain law and order. The situation was brought under control after collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh addressed the protesters by standing on the bonnet of a car, assuring them of strict action against the accused. A day before, members of the right wing organisation had gheraoed the police station.The protest stemmed from an incident involving three schoolgirls, aged 14 and 15, from the Berasia area. Three men from the same locality, identified as Armaan Lala, Zeeshan, and Anas, had been stalking the girls on social media platforms. They began pressuring the girls to meet them, and when the girls refused, the men threatened to make their photos viral online and started blackmailing them. This harassment had been going on for 2-3 months, but the terrified girls did not report it. One of the girls recently revealed the ordeal to her family and approached Berasia police station. On Wednesday, based on a complaint from the family of one of the girls, Armaan Lala was arrested. The right wing organisation members had then warned the authorities to arrest the other accused by Thursday.Two more cases registered Late Wednesday night, Berasia police registered two more cases based on complaints from two other girls. Zeeshan and Anas were charged under various sections, including molestation and blackmail, under the BNS, IT Act, and the POCSO Act. Both were subsequently arrested.Berasia remains completely closedIn protest against the incident, Berasia observed a complete shutdown on Thursday. Local residents mentioned that this was the first time in four to five decades that not a single shop opened in the town. Around 4,000 right wing organisation members gathered at Berasia police station around 11 AM, demanding a public parade of the accused from Choupad Bazaar to Berasia police station and that strict action, including invoking the National Security Act (NSA), be taken against them.The protesters also called for action against any police officers attempting to cover up the case, a thorough investigation into the entire gang involved, recovery of deleted data from the accused's mobile phones, and punishment for any officers aiding the accused.Collector's pacifies the crowdUpon receiving information about the protest, Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, SP Pradeep Kumar Sinha, local MLA Vishnu Khatri and additional police forces reached the spot. Standing on the bonnet of a car, Collector Singh assured the protesters that the accused would face the harshest possible punishment. Following this assurance, the protesters dispersed peacefully, ending the four-hour demonstration without any untoward incidents. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !