The Union Home Ministry on Monday shot off a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Government asking it to explain why the stringent clauses of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were not slapped on those accused of raping and murdering the two cousins in Badaun.
“The law is there. It is to protect the SCs and STs from atrocities… We do not know why the State Government has not slapped it (clauses) against the accused,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi on Monday morning. He said the letter has been sent to the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Reacting to the move of the Centre, Uttar Pradesh Inspector General (law and order) Amrendra Sengar claimed that no proceedings under the SC/ST Act could be made as the victims were not Dalits.
“There is no doubt in the minds of the State Government or even at the local administration about the caste of the victims. They both hail from Shakiya community which does not come under the SC category so question of registering an FIR under the SC/ST Act did not arise,” the Inspector General asserted.