Hathras case: Victim's family to testify before Allahabad HC today
The bereaved family of a 19-year-old Dalit woman from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh will appear before the Allahabad High Court on Monday to narrate their version of the story. As per reports, five members from the family of the victim, who was allegedly gang-raped by four men of the upper caste, left for Lucknow earlier today. Security was beefed up by the administration.
Background: HC asked government, police to explain late-night cremation
The Lucknow bench had on October 1 asked top officials from the government and police to brief it about the case. HC was shaken by the late-night cremation of the woman last month. After being allegedly assaulted on September 14, the victim passed away in Delhi. Her family wasn't allowed to take her mortal remains home, and cops coerced them for a hurried cremation.
The incident, including unholy last rites, shocked "our conscience": HC
Earlier, the division bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh asked UP Additional Chief Secretary, State Police Chief, Additional Director General of police, Hathras District Magistrate, and SP to apprise it about the case. "The incidents which took place after the death of the victim on September 29, 2020, leading up to her cremation, as alleged, have shocked our conscience," said HC.
Family refused to travel in dark, officials accompanied them today
Notably, the family was supposed to arrive in the UP capital last night, but citing "fear" they refused to travel in the dark. They were asked to get ready by 5 am today, the victim's brother said. Visuals showed a number of officials flanking the family as they started their journey. Reportedly, Sub-divisional Magistrate Anjali Gangwar, DM, and SP traveled with the family.
In full media glare, family left for court
60 personnel stationed at victim's house, eight CCTV cameras installed
The police said at least 60 security personnel were deployed and eight CCTV cameras were installed at the victim's house to ensure the family's safety. "Officials have been conducting peace meeting in the nearby villages and appealed to them not to pay attention to the rumors," Vineet Jaiswal, who took charge after SP Vikrant Veer was suspended over the spine-chilling case, had said.
A register for visitors is being maintained
Further, DIG Police Shalabh Mathur was also sent to Hathras as a nodal officer. The senior officer said a control room, to monitor movements of those entering the family's house, was set up. "A door framed metal detector (DFMD) has also been installed and measures for fire-fighting, too, are present," he said, according to HT. A register of visitors is also being maintained.
SC also discussed the case, fumed at series of events
Before the HC, the case resonated at the Supreme Court last week, wherein the UP government defended its actions of cremating the victim in the dead of the night. The government said it had credible intel inputs suggesting that those having vested interests could exploit the case to fan violence in the state. Subsequently, SC sought an update on the protection of witnesses.
CBI formally took over the case, registered FIR
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday registered an FIR under IPC sections, dealing with gang-rape and murder, and also under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. "The complainant had alleged that on 14.09.2020, the accused tried to strangulate his sister in the millet field," said CBI spokesperson RK Gaur. The Ghaziabad wing of CBI could probe the case, reports IE.
