A minor traffic accident near the New Railway Station crossing in Ghaziabad spiraled into a violent episode of mob vandalism on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the arrest of five individuals. The incident, which caused significant damage to a slum cluster close to the Raj Nagar District Centre (RDC), was triggered when a scooter hit a nine-year-old girl.
From Accident to Altercation: How Events Unfolded
The chain of events began around 3 PM near the RDC. According to the police and the complainant, a man named Aman Sharma was riding a scooter with a friend when their vehicle struck a minor girl, identified as Aaina. The injured child is the niece of the complainant, Vishal.
Angered by the incident, locals from the slum area confronted the scooterists. A scuffle broke out, during which Aman Sharma allegedly fell after being pushed by someone from the crowd. This physical altercation set the stage for a rapid escalation.
Mob Violence and Destruction Captured on CCTV
Following the initial fight, Aman Sharma reportedly called his acquaintances to the spot. What followed was a brazen attack on the slum dwellings. More than a dozen people, armed with sticks and rods, descended upon the slum cluster.
CCTV footage from the area, accessed by authorities, shows the group running amok, damaging huts and assaulting residents. Vishal stated that the assailants demolished huts, hurled abuses, and issued threats. Those who attempted to protect their homes were also beaten. The group remained at the location for over 20 minutes before fleeing upon hearing that police were arriving.
Police Response and Legal Action
Kavi Nagar police, led by ACP Suryabali Maurya, responded to the information and reached the scene promptly. Based on their initial investigation and evidence, they arrested five people from the spot. The arrested individuals have been identified as Aman Sharma, Pawan Singh, Ritesh Kumar, Kamal Singh, and Vishakha Prajapati.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Kavi Nagar police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include:
- BNS 191(2) - Punishment for rioting
- BNS 191(3) - Rioting, armed with deadly weapons
- BNS 351(2) - Punishment for criminal intimidation
- BNS 115(2) - Voluntarily causing hurt
- BNS 352 - Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace
- BNS 324(4) - Mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50
The accused were produced in court on Wednesday and subsequently sent to jail. The case highlights how a local dispute can quickly erupt into large-scale violence, prompting swift police intervention to restore order.
