Auto driver rapes student, later shot in leg by UP police

AGRA: A 25-year-old MPharma aspirant from Lucknow was allegedly sexually assaulted by an autorickshaw driver Thursday after she deboarded a bus and booked the three-wheeler from a key intersection of Yamuna Expressway in Mathura to visit an educational institution to complete admission formalities. Hours later, the accused driver was shot in the leg in a brief encounter when he tried to escape police custody.

SHO Videsh Kumar told TOI, "The woman, from Lucknow, was on her way to the university on the outskirts of Mathura when she was sexually assaulted. She dialled 112 (emergency police number). Police rescued the woman and the driver was caught."

Based on the woman's complaint, an FIR was registered under BNS sections 64 (1) (rape), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) against the driver. The SHO said the accused was arrested and the woman sent for medical tests.

In the FIR, the woman said she deboarded a bus from Lucknow at Yamuna E-way intersection and booked the auto. However, the accused driver deviated from the normal route and stopped at a deserted stretch, where he tried to force himself on her. When she resisted, he dragged her to the bushes and sexually assaulted her.

Mathura SP (city) Rajeev Kumar Singh said, "To recover the three-wheeler, accused was taken to the place. There, he snatched a pistol from the SI and fled after firing towards the cops with the intention to cause harm. The alert cops retaliated and shot him in the left leg. He was, thereafter, admitted to hospital." A separate case has been filed against him under BNS sections 109 (1) (attempt to murder) and 309 (4) (penalties for the offence of robbery) for trying to take on the police team, Singh said.