UP shocker: Man gropes burqa-clad woman in Moradabad, opens fire at police in bid to flee; shot in leg

BAREILLY: A 28-year-old man was arrested by the UP police following an encounter in Moradabad on Monday night for allegedly harassing a burqa-clad woman by touching her inappropriately, said police, adding that the accused, identified as Mohd Aadil, was shot in his left leg during the encounter.The purported CCTV footage from Moradabad shows a woman being accosted from behind by the accused, Aadil. The man suddenly groped her as she walked alone in the lane. The woman fought back fiercely, and after a struggle, successfully forced him to run away. Subsequently, the CCTV footage was circulated online.Moradabad SP (City) Kumar Ranvijay Singh said, “Due to the ongoing drone rumours, police were patrolling in a village when the cops saw a high-speed bike coming towards them.

They gestured to the biker to stop, but he sped away, taking a U-turn. Police followed him. A considerable distance away, the accused slipped in mud and tried to flee on foot. However, when cops rushed towards him, he opened fire towards them. In retaliatory fire, the accused was shot in the leg and was arrested.

”He added, “During questioning, the accused Aadil told us that he thought the cops had come to arrest him due to his behaviour with the woman on Sunday.”

“The accused was arrested and rushed to the district hospital for medical treatment by the cops. An FIR in connection with the case was lodged at a police station in Moradabad under BNS sections 75 (sexual harassment) against an unidentified person. Now, we will add Aadil’s name in the chargesheet and send him to jail after producing him before the court,” the SP added.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)