In a significant development in the shocking Sachendi gang-rape case, the Kanpur Police have announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the absconding accused, Sub-Inspector Amit Maurya. The announcement comes amidst a major departmental shake-up, with several senior officers being removed or suspended for alleged negligence in handling the case of a 14-year-old girl.
Police Shake-Up and Reward Announcement
Kanpur's Commissioner of Police, Raghubir Lal, declared the reward for anyone providing credible information that results in the arrest of SI Amit Maurya. The police action did not stop there. Showing zero tolerance for lapses, the department took strict action against officers found wanting in their duty.
ACP (Panki) Shikhar Kumar has been removed from his post for failing to show alertness and seriousness in the incident. Furthermore, Bhimsen police out-post in-charge, Dinesh Kumar, has been suspended. His suspension was ordered because he not only failed to inform his superiors about the case but also proceeded on leave, causing a critical delay in the investigation.
Details of the Crime and Initial Police Response
The horrific incident occurred on Monday night around 10 PM. The 14-year-old survivor, a resident of a village under Sachendi police limits, had stepped out for some work a short distance from her home. According to her statement, two men in a black car pulled her inside the vehicle. They took her near a railway line and raped her.
The traumatized girl returned home around midnight and informed her family. When the family first approached the Bhimsen police out-post, they were turned away. The girl identified one of the assailants as a policeman. The family then went to the Sachendi police station, where an FIR was finally registered against unknown occupants of a car for abduction and rape.
It took three days for the police to record the survivor's statement before a magistrate. In her detailed account, she narrated the brutality inflicted by the accused, YouTuber Shivbaran Yadav and the suspended SI Amit Maurya. Following this, she was presented before the Child Welfare Committee and sent home under police security.
Ongoing Manhunt and Security Measures
The police have formed four special teams, under the supervision of the Police Commissioner and the Crime Branch, to track down the fugitive SI. Raids are being conducted at all his possible hideouts. While Shivbaran Yadav is already in judicial custody, Amit Maurya remains at large.
To ensure the survivor's safety, the police have deployed a round-the-clock security detail outside her house. Two policemen are stationed during the day and two at night, ensuring 24-hour protection for the girl and her family.
The case has led to a wider departmental clean-up. Apart from ACP Shikhar Kumar and out-post in-charge Dinesh Kumar, two other SIs were suspended. The station in-charge of Sachendi police station, Vikram Singh, has also been suspended. Additionally, DCP (West) Dinesh Tripathi was removed and reassigned as DCP (Headquarters).
The Police Commissioner, along with Joint Police Commissioner (Crime and Headquarters) Vinod Kumar Singh, personally inspected the crime scene on Friday. This inspection led to the confirmation of negligence by the ACP and the out-post in-charge.
Meanwhile, a video of the mother of accused Shivbaran Yadav circulated on Friday. In the emotional clip, she cried, claiming her son's innocence. She stated that if he is found guilty, he should be punished severely, but pleaded for his release if he is innocent.
The Kanpur Police's aggressive stance, involving a public reward and strict internal action, underscores the gravity of the case and the pressure to deliver justice swiftly.
