The Uttarakhand Police on Sunday arrested a BJP leader for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl in the ​​Almora district of the state. 


Bhagwat Singh Bora, block chief from Almora district, was arrested on Saturday night for molesting a teenager, after which he was expelled with immediate effect on the instructions of BJP’s state president Mahendra Bhatt. 


Almora SSP Devendra Pincha said that the incident took place on August 24 in the Salt revenue area and the information regarding the crime was received on August 30.


The minor’s mother informed the police that the girl had gone to a nearby forest to graze goats with her brothers when the BJP leader arrived there and molested her daughter by luring her with chocolates, according to a report in Hindustan Times. 


“We arrested him while he was on the run. We will produce him in the local court and seek his remand”, the SP said.


Pincha said that a case has been registered against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 74 (assault or criminal force on a woman to outrage her modesty) of the BNS.


Meanwhile, after recording the minor's statement, her medical examination was also conducted.


Attacking the BJP over the issue, state Congress president Karan Mahara alleged the BJP government has given “license” to its leaders in the matter of atrocities against women.


The state Congress also staged protests across the state on Saturday against the “rising” crimes against women and the overall “deterioration” of law and order.


State BJP president Bhatt termed the incident as “very unfortunate” and said the accused has been expelled from the party.


In a statement, the BJP leader said the Pushkar Dhami government in the state is implementing a policy of 'zero tolerance' towards crime.


“In this case also, whether the accused is small or big, influential or associated with any political party, our government is taking the strictest action… As far as the organisation's side is concerned, the leader involved in the incident has been dismissed from all posts with immediate effect and shown the way out of the party, he said.