Kalyan, Dec 17 (TOI): Three years after a bouncer from Kalyan was murdered for speaking up against the molestation of a minor girl, six of the seven people who had been accused of his murder were let off by a trial court on Friday.
The order given by justice Mirza Beg cited lack of evidence against the six accused persons.

The case dates back to 2013. It was on March 4 that the neighbours of an 11-year-old girl had alleged that a minor boy from the same locality was dragging the girl to the terrace of a building, allegedly to sexually assault her.

While the girl's family had not lodged any police complaint, a meeting of community members was convened when the bouncer, Haji Abdul Gaffar Shaikh, who lived in the neighbouring building, had slapped the minor boy.

Twelve days later, when Haji was returning home from work, he was attacked allegedly by the minor boy, his relative and a few friends. He was attacked with swords and choppers. As Haji was a bulky man, the attackers first hacked four of his fingers to ensure that he could not fight back and stabbed him seven times. He died in hospital during treatment.

Haji's family has now decided to approach the higher court. The six persons who have been acquitted had been accused of murder. The minor, who was charged with murder and molestation is in a remand home. A decision in his case is sill awaited.