The Uttar Pradesh Police has transferred senior IPS officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Varuna Zone, Chandrakant Meena, from a high-profile gang-rape case involving a 19-year-old girl in Varanasi, according to reports.

This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention during his 50th visit to his parliamentary constituency last week, amid growing outrage over the brutal crime.

Upon landing at Varanasi airport few days ago, Modi was briefed by Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal and other officials about the case, which involves the alleged gang-rape of a young woman by 23 men. Visibly upset, the Prime Minister expressed dismay at the police’s handling of the investigation and demanded stringent action against the perpetrators. He also directed authorities to implement measures to prevent such atrocities in the future, sources said.

Shortly after, a letter from the Inspector General (Personnel) at Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters confirmed Meena’s transfer to the office of the Director General of Police (DGP). Meena, a 2018-batch officer with a distinguished record, including roles as ADCP Kashi Zone and DCP Crime, becomes the first official to face repercussions for alleged lapses in the case.

The case centers on a 19-year-old from Khajuri, Varanasi, who went missing on March 29, 2025, and was recovered by police on April 4. Her mother filed a complaint on April 6, leading to a gang-rape case against 23 accused—11 identified and 12 unidentified. As of now, 13 suspects are in custody, with 10 still at large, police confirmed.

According to the survivor’s statement, a friend lured her to a hookah bar in Pishachmochan on March 29, where others joined them. She alleges she was drugged with a spiked drink and taken to various hotels in the Sigra area, where she endured repeated assaults over six days. “The ordeal unfolded across multiple locations, orchestrated by a group that exploited her vulnerability,” a senior officer revealed.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government following recent violent protests in Murshidabad over the Waqf Amendment Act. Referring to the unrest, Adityanath said “Bengal is burning” while its Chief Minister remains “silent”.

Addressing a public meeting in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, the BJP leader remarked that “danda” — the Hindi term for a stick — is the only effective solution against rioters. Drawing comparisons, he claimed that prior to 2017, when BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh, riots were a frequent occurrence in the state.

“Danda is the only treatment for rioters. You can see, Bengal is burning. The Chief Minister is silent. She is calling rioters ‘peace ambassadors’,” he stated during his speech.

Adding further, Adityanath used a Hindi proverb to reinforce his stance: “Laton ke bhoot baaton se kahan manne wale hain,” which loosely translates to “Those who respond only to force don’t understand words.”

The Uttar Pradesh CM accused the West Bengal administration of enabling violence under the guise of secularism. “In the name of secularism, they have given freedom to rioters. The government is silent. Such anarchy should be controlled,” he added.

These remarks come amid growing political tension over the Waqf Amendment Act, with opposition voices criticizing both state and central policies. The violence in Murshidabad has drawn widespread attention, placing the West Bengal government under scrutiny.

A 26-year-old man from Gujarat, who allegedly issued a bomb threat to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, has been found to be mentally unstable, Mumbai Police confirmed on Tuesday. The individual, identified as Mayank Pandya, is a resident of a village in Waghodia taluka of Vadodara district and is currently undergoing treatment for mental illness.

Threat traced to Vadodara village

The matter came to light when Mumbai Traffic Police received a WhatsApp message on Sunday, in which the sender threatened to blow up Salman Khan’s car and physically assault him at his residence. The actor is under Y-Plus category security due to previous threats.

Mumbai Police immediately registered a case under Section 351(2)(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation. Security was further tightened around Khan’s Bandra residence, Galaxy Apartments.

Following the message, a police team launched a probe and traced the sender to Gujarat. Accompanied by local Waghodia police, Mumbai Police visited Pandya’s home on Monday. Authorities confirmed the man was mentally ill and had been receiving medical treatment.

No arrest made, notice served

Although he was not arrested, Pandya was served a notice by the Mumbai Police, instructing him to appear before investigators as and when required during the ongoing probe.

“Considering his medical condition, we chose not to take him into custody at this point. The investigation will continue,” an official stated.

Previous threats and heightened security

This incident adds to a series of threats faced by Salman Khan over the years. In April 2024, assailants on a motorcycle fired gunshots outside Khan’s residence. He has also been threatened in the past by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which demanded an apology from the actor for the alleged killing of a blackbuck — a sacred animal for the Bishnoi community.

In light of such threats, the actor has been granted Y-Plus security by Mumbai Police. Last year, Navi Mumbai Police also claimed to have thwarted a Bishnoi gang plan to attack Khan during his travel to his farmhouse in Panvel.