Hathras case: CM Adityanath gives SIT ten more days
On orders of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the rape and inhumane assault of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras, got ten more days to submit its findings. The team was scheduled to furnish its report today. Earlier, five policemen, including Hathras SP, were suspended on the basis of SIT's initial report. They were blamed for laxity.
CM extended the deadline for SIT: Awanish Awasthi
Confirming the development, Awanish K Awasthi, UP Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, said, "Following the orders of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the time given to the SIT to submit their report to the Chief Minister has been extended by ten days." The three-member team, led by state Home Secretary Bhagwan Swaroop, also has DIG Police Chandraprakash and IPS officer Poonam on-board.
SIT was given the responsibility of probe amid nationwide outrage
Adityanath had constituted the SIT and tasked it with the probe amid countrywide outrage over the incident. On September 14, the woman was out for farm-related work when four men of upper-caste, dragged her by the dupatta, raped and dumped her. The assault left her with serious spine injuries; she died last Tuesday at Safdarjung Hospital. Later, she was cremated in dead of night.
When SIT visited the village, media was locked out
Last week, after the woman's undignified cremation, SIT reached the Bulgaddhi village, which was turned into a virtual fortress, with at least 300 policemen guarding its entrances. Media personnel and politicians, both local and national, were prohibited from meeting the bereaved family. When questioned about high-handedness, the administration said it took such steps to keep the probe "unadulterated." Eventually, the media was allowed inside.
SIT visited the attack and cremation site yesterday
The SIT, shockingly, had also recommended lie-detector tests for the victim's family, as well as the accused. Once the media managed to speak to the family, some relatives asked why should they be subject to humiliation when they are speaking the truth. Yesterday, the team visited the field where the woman was attacked and the cremation site. A forensics expert also accompanied them.
Earlier, SIT was hopeful of wrapping up the probe soon
Yesterday, sources in the panel told NDTV, "Our probe will be completed by tomorrow. We hope that we can submit the report to the state government tomorrow. If we're unable to complete the probe due to any reason, we can in another day or two."
Late-night cremation to avoid violence: UP government told SC
Meanwhile, the case has reached the Supreme Court, with the top court noting that the series of events were horrible. On the late-night cremation, the UP government said it "convinced" the family as it had credible inputs that a large number of people could ascend to the village the next morning, sparking "law and order problems." Subsequently, SC sought an update on witnesses' protection.
UP government told SC the victim gave two statements
In the affidavit, the state government also said the victim gave two statements regarding what transpired on the fateful day. On September 19, she told that Sandeep (one of the four accused) "molested her and tried to kill her by strangulating her with a cloth (dupatta)." Two days later, she told police that Sandeep, Ramu, Luvkush, and Ravi raped her, reports IE.
