The Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) on Sunday took over the investigation into the gangrape and murder of a Dalit woman in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh and registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections related to gangrape and murder, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The agency assigned the case to its Ghaziabad unit with a special team to investigate the crime that has led to a nationwide outrage, officials said.
The 19-year-old girl was allegedly raped by four men on September 14. She succumbed to severe injuries at a hospital here a fortnight later. Her death culminated in reportedly a hushed up cremation at night allegedly at the behest of the district administration. The political slugfest was further accentuated following the controversial statement by the State police claiming there was no evidence of rape.
The brutal injuries suffered by the victim and the local administration’s move to cremate her body late at night triggered massive outrage among people resulting in a political battle from the national capital to Lucknow and Hathras.
The political slugfest was further accentuated following the controversial statement by the State police claiming there was no evidence of rape.
The widespread public outcry compelled the State government to transfer the case, originally registered at Chandpa police station in Hathras.
The Hathras police had registered a case of attempt to murder on a statement by the victim’s brother who had said the accused had tried to strangulate his sister in a millet field and escaped when she raised an alarm.
Following the State government’s request to probe the case, the notification issued by the centre had asked the CBI to probe rape, murder and atrocity and “any attempt, abetment and/or conspiracy, in relation to or in connection with such offence(s) and/or for any other offence committed in the course of the same transaction or arising out of the same facts”.
“The complainant had alleged that on September 14, 2020 the accused tried to strangulate his sister in the millet field. The case has been registered by CBI on the request of Uttar Pradesh Government and further Notification from Government of India,” the CBI said in a statement.
A team has been constituted and investigation is continuing, it added.
Agency sources said the CBI will not probe the international plot and criminal conspiracy to defame the Uttar Pradesh Government as claimed in an affidavit by the State Government before the Supreme Court.