The mother of one of the victims said she does not trust the SHO of Kareli police station, Rajesh Kumar Singh, under whose jurisdiction the madarsa falls.

She said, “He had asked me what work my husband does, and when I told him he teaches namaaz and gets Rs 1,000 a month, he said, ‘Send him to me, I will get him a job, but take your complaint back.’”

“But I told him that my only daughter’s life is ruined, I don’t need a job and will not take my complaint back,” she said. Senior police officiers in Allahabad said the rape section was inserted in the FIR on the intervention of DIG Meena.

Standing outside the police station on Saturday were the family members of the eight people detained for interrogation. They said the men were picked up by police just like that.

Razia, mother of one Naushad, said her son worked at a tailor shop. “They picked him up along with Ikhlaq, the owner of the shop, while they were working.”

A dealer in rags, Aijaz Ahmed, said three of his workers — Nazir, Dileep and Shiv Chand — were picked up at night when they were sleeping. A cycle mechanic, Pappu, and another tailoring-shop employee Shibu were also detained for questioning.

Razia and Aijaz both alleged that the police was working under pressure from MP Atiq Ahmed, known to have criminal record, who had got three men released late at night. They also said they were wary of one Javed, a “social worker” who had been active in accompanying the girls to hospital and had been seen at the police station several times.

... contd.