Three cops related to accused suspended, three transferred
NAGPUR, April 18 -- Three policemen have been suspended and three others transferred after a video surfaced showing them celebrating the birthday of Mohammad Ayan, the 19-year-old main accused in the Amravati sexual abuse case.
The suspended personnel - an officer and two constables - are attached to the Paratwada police station. Ayan hails from the town of Paratwada in Amravati district, in the news ever since it emerged that Ayan and his associates had sexually abused more than 180 young women, many of them minors, blackmailed them, and circulated objectional videos of him with the women.
The birthday video shows three police personnel and other supporters of Ayan cutting a cake in his honour on a public road. The event took place only days before he was arrested.
"Assistant police inspector Salim Sheikh and police constables Shubham Sharma and Mayur Gurav were suspended on Friday after the video clip went viral," said Vishal Anand, superintendent of police, Amravati Rural.
Anand said three other policemen, all of them with the Achalpur police station, have also been identified as being associated with Ayan. All six have been transferred to the headquarters in Amravati, said Anand.
Meanwhile, police are piecing together a chilling trail of venues allegedly used by Ayan to target victims and film himself with them. Investigators raided a rented flat on Kathora Road in Amravati, allegedly a key site for the exploitation. The premises, owned by Manav Sugandhe, was searched and documented, with the owner now summoned for questioning.
Police confirmed that Ayan frequently met victims at various public locations - including Cafe Royal 10 in Amravati, Cafe Friends Town in Achalpur, and Cafe Social Junction in Paratwada. One victim was also approached at a secluded garden near Wazzar Dam.
So far, eight individuals have been arrested, including Ayan, the prime accused. Ten individuals have been detained for questioning, although no new arrests have been made.
In a parallel crackdown, the cyber cell has deleted 41 social media accounts that were used to circulate sensitive content relating to Ayan's victims. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has assigned woman police inspector Yashodhara Muneshwar to connect with victims and their families. Given the sensitive nature of the case, none has come forward so far.
The case has also drawn national attention, with the National Commission for Women reviewing developments via video conferencing on Friday. Police have appealed to victims to lodge complaints and called upon citizens to share any credible information, assuring strict secrecy for all informants....
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