A 35-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter were gangraped in the early hours of Saturday near Bulandshahr bypass on Delhi-Kanpur National Highway-91 while they were traveling with four other family members in a car.
The father of the teenager has threatened to commit suicide along with the two victims if the police fails to take action within three months, reports the Hindustan Times.
The man, who works as a taxi driver for Ola, even requested the police to let the two females shoot the rapists in public.
Not only were the two raped, but the family was also looted and the rest of the members were assaulted after they asked the accused to kill them. According to The Hindustan Times’ report, the Ola driver said:
My daughter and my wife are not in a position to speak. For 18 years we have lived in Noida and now we are not able to return to our homes because of the shame. I appeal to the Noida Police to deliver me justice. I give them an ultimatum of three months. Post that, we will commit suicide. Two people raped my wife and daughter. My elder brother’s wife was spared because the rapists thought she was too old. We even appealed to them to kill us before they rape them…then they started beating us...They also took Rs 21,000 and jewellery from us.
Police Action So Far
The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday detained 17 tribal people in connection with the gangrape. The three accused in the case, identified by the family, were sent to judicial custody for 14 days starting Monday, IG (Law and Order) Hare Ram Sharma said.
The three suspects were identified as follows:
- Shawed, resident of Dehpa, Hapur
- Rahees, resident of Sutari, Bulandshahr
- Jabar Singh, resident of Noida
Gold ornaments of the victims and Rs 5,500 cash were recovered from the accused, he said, adding a request would be made for trial by a fast-track court.
Seven to eight more names have come up and the police have constituted six teams to nab them, Sharma said.
A special task force has been set up comprising 300 officials from Ghaziabad, Noida, Hapur and Meerut who have a previous record in dealing with tribal criminals. An FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code has been filed.
Police, Doctors’ Insensitivity
When the victims called the police control room post the incident, their calls received no answers. The family had to untie themselves and call for help from friends in Noida as the police patrol van that passed the region did not realise that they were in the fields, The Indian Express reports.
National Commission for Women (NCW) member Rekha Sharma said that the doctor in-charge of the rape case has been summoned for questioning, as the victims complained of his insensitivity towards them.
When they went for check up, she (doctor) wasn’t ready to check them and wanted to shoo them (victims) away.Rekha Sharma, Member of NCW
The victims told an IANS reporter that they walked to the police station after walking for 5 or 6 km but the police’s response remained apathetic.
The women were not given proper medical treatment and there was no provision for counsellors.
Azam Khan Alleges Political Conspiracy
Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan said that conspiracy by opposition parties had played a hand in the Bulandshahr gangrape incident and other crimes in the state.
Khan said since the state elections are approaching, a desperate opposition could stoop to any level to defame and disgrace the government.
We must also probe whether this entire controversy is a move by some Opposition elements to defame the government. People who want to come to power may be stooping this low for political interests.Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party Leader
UP Govt Under Fire
On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked for a report on the Bulandshahr gangrape from the Uttar Pradesh government.
Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo, Mayawati demanded a “personal explanation” from current CM Akhilesh Yadav on whether “he would be able to return the lost honour of the victims”.
This incident has made it clear that UP has no law and order, but jungle raaj. If the Chief Minister cannot handle the state, he should step down. This is my advice.Mayawati, BSP Chief
The Samajwadi Party government has been facing flak from opposition parties over the “deteriorating” law and order in Uttar Pradesh.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)