Kanpur Cleric Arrested for Attempted Rape of 7-Year-Old

A 70-year-old cleric, Maulana Mukhtar, was arrested after being caught on video attempting to rape a 7-year-old girl in Kanpur’s Maqbara locality on August 9.

The girl was lured to his home with sweets, where a suspicious neighbor recorded the crime and alerted the community. 

The locals intervened, reported the incident, and despite Mukhtar’s initial escape, he was arrested by Monday. Residents fear the cleric may have targeted other children in the past, with previous incidents being suppressed due to his influence. ACP Colonelganj Mahesh Kumar assured that strict action would be taken.