Uttar Pradesh rapes: Allahabad HC summons Hathras DGP and DM, Section 144 imposed near India Gate

Days after the body of Hathras gangrape victim was shockingly cremated despite protests from her family, Allahabad high court took suo motto cognizance of the matter and summoned Principal Secy, DGP, and DM Hathras to be present in the court on October 12.

In its order, the HC said, “We are inclined to examine as to whether there has been gross violation of the fundamental rights of the deceased victim and the family members of the victim.”

“Whether the State Authorities have acted oppressively high handedly and illegally to violate such rights as if it is found to be so, then, this would be a case where accountability will not only have to be fixed but for future guidance also stern action would be required,” the Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC added.

The court further said, “Whether the economic and social status of the deceased’s family has been taken advantage of by the State Authorities to oppress and deprive them of their Constitutional rights? We leave it open for our consideration on future dates, as to the necessity of monitoring the investigation or getting it conducted through an independent agency as per law. The seat of governance being at Lucknow and the high Police Officials posted in the office of Director General of Police, U.P. at Lucknow having justified the cremation at night, we have taken cognizance of the matter.”

DM threatens victim’s family

A video has surfaced online that shows the DM, present with the family during their meeting with the SIT and he can be seen threatening them. Priyanka Gandhi also shared the video on Twitter.

A 19-year-old girl was gangraped, brutalised and murdered in Hathras, even after the incident came to light and grabbed the attention of national media, cops hurriedly cremated her body soon after the post-mortem was completed. The victim’s family kept requesting that they be allowed to take the body home, for some time. They were not only denied the request but were reportedly locked inside their home when the cremation happened. National Commission for Women chief Rekha Sharma has written to UP DGP, demanding an explanation over the way things happened.

“National Commission For Women (NCW) writes to DGP, Uttar Pradesh seeking an explanation on the urgency to cremate the body of Hathras gangrape victim in the middle of the night in the absence of her family,” NCW said in a statement.

Section 144 imposed near India Gate, Delhi

Meanwhile, section 144 was imposed near India Gate in Delhi where several activists has planned a protest against the gangrape in Uttar Pradesh.

Lathicharge on protesters in Lucknow

In Lucknow’s Hazratganj, police started lathicharge after Samajwadi Party workers assembled there for protests.

Rapes reported in UP since Hathras incident

A 22-year-old woman was raped and murdered in Balrampur and two people have arrested in the matter.

Cops said a 14-year-old girl, found dead, is suspected to have been raped before being murdered in Bhadohi district.

An eight-year-old girl was raped by a 20-year old neighbour in a village near Azamgarh, cops said Thursday.

NCRB report 2019: Rapes, rapes with murders

According to the latest data from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states with maximum crimes against women ((59,853 in 2019). Rajasthan ranks second with 41,550 reported cases of crimes against women while Maharashtra comes a close third with 37,1444 cases.

The NCRB report presented recently revealed that out of 278 cases of rape with murder registered across the country, Maharashtra has recorded the highest with 47, of which two cases were registered in Mumbai, followed by Madhya Pradesh (37) and Uttar Pradesh (34).