The alleged rape and harassment of a Unnao-based family by BJP MlA Kuldeep Singh Sengar took political colour soon after the girl’s father died in judicial custody in the early hours of Monday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath summoned a detailed report and assured of stern action in the matter. “The incident is unfortunate. ADG, lucknow, has been asked to probe the matter and submit a report and if any policeman is found guilty, action will be taken. Whosoever is guilty will not be spared,” Yogi said.
Cabinet minister and government spokesman Srikant Sharma told reporters in lucknow that a magisterial probe was ordered. “If the allegations are true, it’s a very unfortunate incident. For a fair probe, the inquiry has been shifted to lucknow from Unnao. The state government is committed to ensuring justice to the victim’s family,” he said.
Sengar, who represents Bangarmau Assembly segment in Unnao, also met Yogi on Monday afternoon and demanded a high-level peobe pleading his innocence and accusing the victim’s family of having a criminal past.
When contacted, Sengar refuted the allegations against him and said, “It is a conspiracy hatched by my political opponents to tarnish my image and damage my reputation. I have no problem with any probe. let a probe be conducted and the guilty be handed out stringent punishment. If I am found guilty, I am ready to face punishment.”
Top police officials, including ADG (lucknow Range) Rajeev Krishna, who till Sunday evening had maaintained that the matter was old and action would be only taken after the enquiry was conducted, suddenly suspended half a dozen policemen on Monday to shift the entire responsibility of inaction on juniours.
All senior police officers including Director General of Police, OP Singh and ADG law and Order, Anand Kumar, kept enjoying a cricket match and showed no concern even when the victim, who attempted self immolation in front of the CM’s residence, revaled before the media that the MlA and his aides would get her father killied inside the jail.
Principal Sedcretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said on Monday that if any lapse was found on part of the police, action will be taken. He also said that a magisterial enquiry (mandatory in cases of judicial death or police encounters) would be conducted in the matter.
Unnao district jail officials said on Monday that the victim’s father Surendra Singh alias Pappu (50) died at the district hospital in the early hours of Monday. Pappu was arrested under the Arms Act after being beaten up by the MlA’s brother Anil Singh on April 5.
The family of the girl alleged that the BJP MlA, his brother and goons beat up Pappu when they refused to withdraw the gang- rape case against them. Pappu was seriously injured in the attack but arrested in a old case five days ago. Pervceiving threat to Pappu’s life, his daughter on Sunday rushed to lucknow from Unnao to meet the Chief Minister and plead him to intervene in the matter and save her father’s life.
However on failing in her objective, she attempted self- immolation which was foiled by the police. She alleged that the BJP MlA would orchestrate her father’s murder if the government did not intervene.
Meanwhile soon after Pappu’s death, SP of Unnao, Pushpanjali Devi told reporters that two police officers and four constables, Station Officer of Makhi police station, were suspended. She said that four accused— Sonu, Baua, Vinit and Shailu — named in the FIR were also arrested. She however did not confirm whether those arrested were associates of the BJP MlA.
District Magistrate Ravi Kumar NG said that the autopsy of the victim would be conducted by a panel of doctors to ascertain the exact cause of death.