BADAUN GANGRAPE, MURDER - Top cops deny sexual assault

In a major twist in the alleged rape and murder of two minor cousins in Badaun, the top cops of the state denied that the victims were sexually assaulted. “The autopsy report pointed out that both the victims were not raped as alleged in the report by family members,” disclosed Director General of Police Al Banerjee here on Saturday evening. 

Revealing the startling development after 10 days of probe, Banerjee said that they were considering whether allegations made against the accused in the FIR was true. The UP police shared the latest development with the media after the state Government had recommended a CBI probe into the matter.

Banerjee added that district police chief Atul Saxena had already been suspended over the tardy pace of investigation and similar action would be taken against then DM of Badaun Chandra Prakash. He pointed out that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted in the case was also looking into the involvement of family members of the victim. 

“We are closely monitoring the movement of family members on the fateful day. Besides, we are also using the electronic surveillance technology to confirm the exact location of family members as well as the victims to create a sequence of event,” he added. The DGP stated that all the arrested five accused and suspects would be subjected to polyghrapy and narco analysis tests.

Banerjee also claimed that both the DM and SSP of Badaun had shown lethargic approach in handling the incident and both of them would also face departmental probe.Banerjee’s disclosures came after more than 10 days of investigation and that too when there was a national outrage demanding capital punishment for the accused involved in the gory crime. Besides, almost all political parties showed utmost concern for the family members of the victims and that senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Ram Vilas Paswan, Kalyan Singh visited Badaun and met the family members. Bahaujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati even handed over a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to family members of the victim. A similar amount was also announced as compensation by the state Government but the family members rejected claiming that they needed `justice’ and not `money’. 

The Centre and state government also locked horns over the Badaun incident when Ministry of Home affairs questioned the state Government why legal proceedings under the SC/ST Act was not initiated against the accused. “Why the stringent clauses of Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were not slapped on those accused of raping and murdering of two cousins in Badaun,” questioned Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju. Reacting to Centre’s query, Inspector General (law and Order) Amrendra Sengar claimed that no proceedings under the SC/ST Act could be launched as the victims were not Dalits. “The victims belonged to the Shakiya community. So the question of registering an FIR under the SC/ST Act never arises,” Sengar asserted. He also pointed out that all the five accused —- three brothers Pappu Yadav, Awadhesh Yadav and Urvesh Yadav and constables Chatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav —- had been arrested in the case. Both the cops also lost their jobs after the Government terminated their services. 

The two teenage girls, aged 14 and 15 years, were allegedly gangraped and murdered and their bodies were found strung from a mango tree in a village in Ushait area in Badaun. The girls went missing on May 27 and their bodies were found the next day.