A 19-year-old girl, who was gangraped in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district two weeks ago, died of her grievous injuries at a Delhi hospital on Tuesday morning.
As news of her death spread, protests broke out at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital as well as in Vijay Chowk and in Hathras. Leading the protests outside Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad appealed to all members of the Dalit community to take to the streets and demand the death penalty for the four men alleged to be involved in the crime who were arrested and will now face charges under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
“The Government should not test our patience. We will not rest until the culprits are hanged,” said Azad, adding that the victim was killed in the hospital to silence her forever and shield the culprits.
The Uttar Pradesh Government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victim’s family.
Hitting out at the Yogi Adityanath Government in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress questioned the “silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and women BJP leaders on the issue and alleged that the state has become the “crime capital” of the country.
The party also staged protests demanding justice for the victim at Vijay Chowk. The party said its leaders PL Punia, Udit Raj, Amrita Dhawan and other party leaders were detained at Mandir Marg Police station for the protest.
On September 14, the young woman had gone to the fields with her mother and went missing soon after. She was found later with severe injuries and her tongue cut as she bit it when the accused attempted to strangle her, the SP said while giving details of the incident. She was brought to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday night.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the young woman’s death is a shame for the entire society, the country as well as for all Governments. “It’s highly sad that so many daughters are being sexually assaulted and we have not been able to protect them. The guilty must be hanged at the earliest,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Congress general secretary and in-charge of UP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the Yogi Government over the incident. “A Dalit girl who died in Hathras died in Safdarjung Hospital. For two weeks she struggled with life and death in hospitals. Incidents of rape in Hathras, Shahjahanpur and Gorakhpur have shaken the State,” she said.’
In another tweet also she targeted the Government saying there is “no semblance of security” for women in the state and “criminals are committing crimes in the open”. She claimed that it is the responsibility of the UP Government to provide safety to women. “@mryogiadityanath you are accountable for the safety of women in UP,” the Congress leader tweeted.’’
Former UP Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said, “The news of the death of Dalit victim after gangrape in Hathras is very sad. The Government should provide all possible help to the victim’s family and ensure fast punishment to the culprits by prosecuting them in fast track court,” she said.
Meanwhile Uttar Pradesh government spokesperson and State Cabinet Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said the incident is very saddening. “Our Government stands with the victim’s family. The investigation started immediately and four accused have been arrested. Strict action will be taken. Law will take its own course,” Singh told reporters here in Lucknow while confirming that the government is extending all help to the family members. .
Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar expressed shock and sorrow saying she has become the latest victim of lawlessness under the BJP’s Yogi Government.
The DM denied reports of her tongue being chopped off. He said the tongue of the girl was cut when the accused tried to strangulate her.
On the other hand, IG Aligarh Piyush Mordia said on September 14, the victim’s brother filed a complaint that a man strangled and tried to murder his sister. The victim was then shifted to a hospital. She in her statement said that the man had also harassed her, but made no other allegations. But on September 22, the victim named three more persons and made allegations of rape. The medical examination did not confirm rape. Samples were sent to the forensics lab and the report was awaited. All four accused have been arrested, the IG said. He said the trial of the case would be held in the fast track court. Now the police have added sections under Dalit atrocities and murder against all the four accused.
