Meerut: A 27-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped by two youths in a theatre at Mawana here on Tuesday evening. Police claimed that the rape survivor had accompanied a youth she knew and was gang-raped by the latter and his friend who showed up later. Police arrested two youths — Amiruddin and Wasim — from Mawana bus stand on Tuesday.Police also alleged that the main accused, Amiruddin, befriended the rape survivor on a fake identity, Amar, following which fringe right-wing groups demanded action alleging it to be a case of 'love jihad'. An FIR under section 376 D (gang rape) of the Indian penal code and sections of the SC/ST Act was lodged at Mawana police station.The rape survivor, a resident of Pallavpuram area, was living in a rented house in Hastinapur and was employed in an embroidery shop. Amiruddin befriended her, by allegedly pretending to be Amar, and they started a relationship.Amirrudin took her out for a movie at Kamal Theatre in Mawana here on Tuesday afternoon at about 3 pm. Wasim joined them in the balcony section of the hall, which was deserted apart from the three. The two men then allegedly gang-raped the woman inside the movie hall.The rape survivor then approached the police station with her complaint. With the matter relating to people from two communities, Vishwa Hindu Parishad members led by its office bearer Saurabh Sharma arrived at Mawana police station and demanded immediate action in the case.While the matter took a communal turn, police arrested both the accused on Tuesday evening. They have been sent to jail and the medical examination of the survivor was conducted on Wednesday. "We have lodged an FIR against the two men. We will also interrogate theatre officials about how the crime could be committed while a movie was being screened, and staff was present, and nobody was aware of it,” said Umesh Nath Mishra, circle officer of Mawana.

Stay updated with all the Meerut Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.