BJP leader arrested for molesting minor in Almora, expelled from party

Bhagwat Singh Bora, the block chief from Almora district, was apprehended on Saturday night, according to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Devendra Pincha. A case had been filed against him on Friday. 'We detained him while he was evading capture. We will present him in the local court and request his remand,' Pincha stated. An initial report (FIR) was filed by revenue officials, who handed the case over to the regular police on the district magistrate's (DM) orders on Friday, the SSP mentioned.

As per the police, the incident occurred on August 24, but a complaint was lodged six days later, on August 30. Bora has been charged under Section 74 (assault or use of criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, according to the police.

The minor’s mother told the police that her daughter had gone to a nearby forest to graze goats with her brothers when the BJP leader arrived there and molested her daughter by luring her with chocolates. “The allegations are of molestation. In her statement before the court, doctors, and child welfare committee (CWC), the woman has denied allegations of rape. The medical examination of the girl has already been conducted,” the SSP said.

A woman sub-inspector is probing the case, the police said. Meanwhile, the BJP termed the incident unfortunate and taking stern action, expelled Bora from the party. “We have expelled the accused from primary membership of the party. Our government has a zero-tolerance policy in dealing with crimes against women,” said state BJP president Mahendra Bhatt. 

Bhatt urged opposition leaders to avoid making political statements and let the law take its course. 'Our government has taken stringent measures in similar past incidents,' he stated. On Saturday, the Uttarakhand Congress held protests statewide against the 'increasing' crimes against women and the overall 'decline' in law and order. State Congress chief spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni commented, 'The BJP cannot shirk responsibility by merely expelling the accused from the party; they must ensure a safe environment for all girls and women in the state. The BJP's 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' slogan seems hollow as they appear to protect the accused if they are party members.'