Bareilly, 03 Aug

(HS): A Nepalese lady who had

come to Bareilly looking for work was reportedly attacked by a crowd on

suspicion of stealing, police said on Sunday. The woman, Sushmita Saru Magar

alias Kajal, from Nepal's Pokhara area, was admitted to the hospital in bad

condition, they said. According to authorities, the incident happened on

Saturday night while the lady was staying at the home of an acquaintance, Vinay

Gangwar, in Baradari. She had ventured onto the terrace at 1 a.m. while on the

phone, and several homeowners mistaken her for a robber. According to officials

at the Quila police station, the inhabitants raised an alarm, flashed

torchlights at her, and pursued her.

Frightened, she

attempted to open the patio door. In a panic, she leaped from the roof and

plunged to the earth. The crowd thrashed her with sticks. A video of the event

circulated on social media, showing the woman imploring with folded hands and

repeatedly claiming, I am not a thief, but the crowd proceeded to

abuse her.

Senior Superintendent of Police (City) Manush Pareek stated that a case has

been filed based on the video evidence and the victim's allegation, and four

suspects Gaurav Saxena, Shivam Saxena,

Aman Saxena, and Arun Saini, all of whom live in Baradari have been detained.

He claimed that efforts are underway to find and arrest the other suspects. The

girl informed police that she used to work in Noida but had lost her job and

had traveled to Bareilly through a known source to hunt for work. Two of her

teeth were shattered during the attack, and her leg was injured, she said. Police

have promised stern punishment for individuals who break the law themselves.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi