Authorities in Ayodhya demolished a bakery owned by Samajwadi Party leader Moid Khan on Saturday, just days after he was arrested for gang-raping a minor. Officials stated that the building had been constructed illegally over a pond. This development came mere hours after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met with the victim’s family and promised strict action.
Ayodhya District Magistrate Chandra Vijay Singh told PTI, “The bakery of Moid Khan has been demolished. The bakery had one big room and one small room. It was illegally built over a pond, and has been demolished.” Online visuals showed local authorities overseeing the demolition activities on Friday afternoon. The police also kept a watchful eye using drones as bulldozers brought down the bakery owned by Moid Khan.
Adityanath had earlier addressed the state assembly on Thursday, stating, “Moid Khan is from the Samajwadi Party and a member of the Ayodhya MP’s team. He has been found involved in a case of rape of a 12-year-old. The Samajwadi Party has not taken action against him. I am not able to understand what all this is. He is hanging out with the SP MP of Ayodhya (Awadhesh Prasad).”
Media reports indicated that three men, including the SP-affiliated Moid Khan, gang-raped the 12-year-old. Police sources revealed to PTI that the bakery owner and his employee Raju Khan had raped the girl two months ago and filmed the act. The incident came to light when a recent medical examination confirmed that the victim was pregnant. The police apprehended the duo from the Purakalandar area of Uttar Pradesh on July 30 in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party distanced itself from Khan and urged the BJP to refrain from politicizing the situation. Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad asserted that the SP stood “completely with the victim” and called for taking “full force” action against the guilty party. “I humbly request such people that this is not a moment for politics…Innocents should not be framed and DNA test should be conducted. She (victim) should be helped financially as well. I have never allowed anyone to come near me who has even the slightest connection with the crime. I have never taken any kind of help from them. As far as the photo (with the accused) is concerned. Lakhs of people click pictures with us, take selfies…BJP should not do this kind of politics,” he added. (With inputs from agencies).
