Murder case against BJP lawmaker after Unnao rape survivor's accident
Hours after the mother of the Unnao rape case's survivor alleged that the accident in Raebareli, in which the teen was seriously injured, was a conspiracy, a murder case has now been filed against BJP legislator Kuldeep Sengar. The survivor's mother accused Sengar the prime accused in the rape case, of orchestrating the accident in order to wipe out her family. Here's more.
Backstory: On way to meet uncle, survivor met with accident
On Sunday, the victim, along with her aunt, her aunt's sister, and her lawyer was going to Raebareli district jail to visit her uncle when a truck rammed into their vehicle. While the aunts died, the survivor and her lawyer Mahendra Singh suffered serious injuries. The fact that the truck's license plate was scrubbed with black paint makes the accident extremely fishy.
Sengar has a phone inside jail, alleged victim's mother
Doctors at Lucknow hospital, where the victim is admitted, said she suffered extensive fractures on her ribs, collarbone, an arm, and a leg. She has been kept on the ventilator. And her grieving mother blamed Sengar for it. "I have got to know that the lawmaker got it done. He is inside... he has a phone inside (the jail)," she said. Sengar was arrested in April 2018.
Further, she said Sengar's men were threatening the family
"He is doing everything sitting inside the jail. Sengar is in jail but his men aren't. He and his men were threatening us... We want justice. It was not an accident but a conspiracy to eliminate all of us," her mother went on.
Victim's sister concurred, claimed Sengar's men followed the survivor
The survivor's mother wasn't the only one who thought so. Her sister also hinted at a conspiracy. She claimed Sengar's men often followed the victim and her aunt when they traveled in connection to the rape case. Separately, reminding that the victim's father died in judicial custody, her maternal uncle said various tactics were being deployed to silence her since she spoke up.
Refuting allegations, Sengar's wife asked why would they do it
However, Sengar's wife Sangeeta, who is zila panchayat chairperson, dismissed the allegations. "My husband is in jail despite being innocent. I am deeply pained by the tragedy that has befallen on the family. Everyone knows the truth. Why will we do something like this?" she asked. Meanwhile, state police chief OP Singh said CBI will probe the accident if the victim's family desires so.
But why was the truck's number smeared in black paint?
After the accident, police arrested the truck's owner and driver. About the license plate, police said, "Initial interrogation of the owner has revealed the truck was financed and the owner had not paid the money back. He wanted to hide the number from them."
Just couple of months ago, survivor spoke about threats
The series of events has come as a shock to everyone, but the victim had anticipated something like this might happen. In April, the victim told TOI, she feared for her life. "I have told the CBI that I don't feel safe. I fear for my life- being abducted or kille- by Sengar's men the day I step into my village," she had said.
In fact, she wasn't even sure about getting justice
"I was raped, my father killed, our lives changed for the worst. I have no friends, no education and I have to live in hiding to be safe. How do I trust the government for justice, when BJP took no action against him," she asked.
Earlier, Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj visited Sengar's house, not survivor's
Her mother, too, had echoed the same emotions. She had revealed that Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj visited Sengar's home but not theirs. "He did not come and speak to us, next door. He is our MP too but we had our door tightly shut in fear," she said. To recall, Sakshi also visited Sengar in jail after results were announced to "thank" him.
Separately, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi slammed BJP
The accident took political undertones when Opposition leaders slammed BJP, which governs both UP and Centre. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao. A new special education bulletin for Indian women. Don't ask questions if a BJP MLA is accused of having raped you." Similarly, his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked if BJP has any moral duty towards its citizens or not.
