Badaun gang-rape case: Pressure mounts on Akhilesh govt; victims` family complains of threats

Pressure mounted on the Uttar Pradesh government of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday in connection with the Badaun gang-rape and murder case, even as the family of one of the victims alleged that they have received threats.

Zee Media Bureau/ Neha Attre & Deepak Nagpal

New Delhi: Pressure mounted on Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav`s Uttar Pradesh government on Monday in connection with the Badaun gang-rape and murder case, even as the father of one of the victims alleged that they have received threats. "We are receiving threats. We are being told that who will protect us once the media leaves the village and politicians stop frequenting us," the father said. The father also said that the family does not trust the state police and so they should be given protection by Central forces. The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed state police personnel for the family`s protection. Meanwhile, amid mounting criticism the state government today shifted Uttar Pradesh`s Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Kumar Gupta. Gupta has been put on the waiting list for his next posting, an official spokesman said in Lucknow. Earlier in the day, hundreds of BJP workers protested outside Akhilesh Yadav`s office in Lucknow slamming the poor law and order situation in the state in view of the horrific gang-rape and murder of two sisters in Badaun. The Uttar Pradesh police used water cannons to disperse the BJP workers protesting outside the residence of the CM. The Mahila Morcha workers also waved bangles while protesting against the UP CM. Also today, the BJP said that the Centre may intervene in the case if Governor BL Joshi sends a report. Launching an attack on the ruling Samajwadi Party government in the state, BJP leader Kalraj Mishra reportedly said, “The law and order situation in the state has completely broken down.” However, the Samajwadi Party accused political parties of trying to gain mileage out of the incident. Politicians across parties, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BSP supremo Mayawati and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, have visited the family over the last few days. Separately, the Ministry of Home Affairs wrote to the SP government asking it as to why an FIR was not registered in the case under the SC/ST Act. "The law is there. It is to protect the SCs and STs from atrocities. It was a clear case of atrocity on a weaker section of the society. We do not know why the state government has not slapped it (clauses) against the accused," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, as per PTI. The UP Police, however, claimed that the victims did not belong to the said caste. "The caste of the victims does not attract the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act", IG, Law and Order Amrendra Sengar said. "There is no confusion at the district level in this matter as the caste of the victims does not come under the Scheduled Caste or Tribe," he added. According to sources, the two cousin sisters belonged to "shakya" caste which come under the category of backward castes. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said that the incident has shocked the government as well as the nation. She said that setting up of rape crisis centres was on her priority list irrespective of the incident. Maneka said the aim behind the setting up of the rape crisis centres is to provide security to women and ensure that the guilty gets punished. “We will be setting up rape crisis centres in districts which will have the provision of medical aid, legal aid, police aid and ambulance as well. Funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore have been allotted and these centres will be ready by end of this year,” she said. Maneka further said that her ministry will be coordinating with the Health Ministry for construction of toilets in rural areas. The Badaun incident led to nationwide furore after two cousins, aged 14 and 15, went missing from their home and their bodies were later found hanging from a tree. It was confirmed that they were gang-raped before being strangulated. When journalists asked about the gruesome incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said, “I hope you have not faced any danger!” When the journalist replied in the negative, the Chief Minister reportedly said, "Thank you. You should propagate this." After the bodies were found, an FIR was filed against seven persons including two policemen. While five accused have been arrested in the case, hunt is on to nab the remaining two.