A tragic incident unfolded in Lucknow when a three-year-old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted near the Alambagh Metro station early Thursday. In a swift police operation, the accused, identified as Deepak Verma, was killed in an encounter on Friday morning as he attempted to evade arrest.
The survivour, the daughter of pavement dwellers from Unnao, had been sleeping with her parents near the Metro premises when she was abducted around 4 am. Her absence was quickly noticed by the family, who began searching for her. She was eventually found abandoned around 500 metres from the spot, critically injured. A differently-abled man heard her cries and alerted her parents.
The child was initially taken to Rajnarayan Lokbandhu Hospital. Dr. Rajiv Dixit, the medical superintendent, shared, “She was in pain and was immediately shifted to the emergency ICU. A team of specialists, including a gynaecologist, paediatrician, and surgeon, conducted initial assessments. Due to the severity of her condition, she was referred to KGMU by noon.”
Later, doctors at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) trauma centre confirmed that she had sustained severe injuries and needed urgent surgery. Her condition, though still critical, is now considered stable by medical teams.
FIR was Registered Under Various Section
Police launched an investigation immediately after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 65(2) and POCSO Act sections 5(h) and 6 at the Alambagh police station. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Ashish Srivastava said, “The family initially brought the child to Lok Bandhu Hospital, where medical professionals confirmed the rape and alerted the One Stop Centre. Following this, the police were informed.”
CCTV footage near the Metro station showed a young man picking up the child and heading towards a lift before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. Using the vehicle details, police identified the accused as Deepak Verma, a train vendor known to sell water bottles to passengers. When a police team reached his residence, he had already fled.
Law enforcement agencies soon received a tip that Verma was attempting to escape from the city. Acting on this, they laid a trap. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mamta Rani Chaudhary, Verma opened fire on officers when asked to surrender. “The police team returned the gunfire in retaliation, and Verma sustained an injury. He was immediately taken to a hospital, where he died during treatment,” she stated.
Further investigation revealed that a criminal case was already pending against Verma. Authorities are currently gathering more information about his past activities and associates.
Similar Case was Registered in March
This horrifying episode has taken place not far from where, in March, a woman from Ayodhya was abducted and murdered following a failed attempt at sexual assault by an e-rickshaw driver and his brother. That incident had already intensified concerns over public safety in the area.
DCP Srivastava added, “Five police teams have been formed to track down the accused. Senior officials are monitoring the investigation on the ground.”
As the city reels from yet another brutal crime, demands for stricter vigilance, enhanced security measures around public transit zones, and protection for vulnerable communities are once again at the forefront of public discourse.
