In the wake of the gangrape of a 13-year-old girl in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), on March 9, and the subsequent death of her father in a road accident the next day, the Congress party has demanded a judicial probe along with the resignation of the state chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
The prime accused of the gangrape — Golu Yadav and Deepu Yadav have been arrested and three police officials have been suspended for alleged negligence in connection with the case.
The victim was gang raped in Kanpur on March 9 and the victim’s father registered a police complaint on the same day. The next day, victim was taken to a primary health centre for a medical test to confirm the allegations of rape. Outside the health centre, the victim’s father got mowed down by a truck and died on the spot.
According to the statement issued by Kanpur DIG/SSP Preetinder Singh, a case has been registered against the accused under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) . “The beat in-charge, a station in-charge and a beat constable have been suspended. A departmental inquiry will proceed against the three suspended officials and a report of the negligence by these officials will be submitted to this office by the SP (Rural),” the statement said.
Mohit Agrawal, Inspector General of Police in Kanpur range also took to Twitter to inform that five police teams have been formed to investigate the case. “The victim’s father was on the way to get her medical test done at the Ghatampur primary health centre when he was crushed to death by a truck. The victim’s family has been given a compensation of a million rupees and 5 beegha (about 2 acres) of land,” he said.
The relatives of the victim allege that at the time when the two went to the police station to register their complaint, they received death threats from one of the accused. The incensed relatives also blocked the Kanpur-Sagar Highway in protest.
The Congress party has targeted the chief minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in the state. In a press conference, Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate condemned the UP government. “In Uttar Pradesh, not only women are violated but also the victims are suppressed and evidence is destroyed. The relatives of the victims are often killed. In the wake of the rising crimes against women in the state, Yogi Adityanath should take the ethical responsibility and resign from his position,” Shrinate said.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures for 2019, India registered 87 rape cases every day. A total of 32,033 cases of rape were registered in 2019 out of which 3,065 were in Uttar Pradesh alone which is roughly 10 per cent of the total caseload.
