SIT formed to probe Dalit girl’s death in Hathras

UNDER attack from all sections of the society for the barbaric killing of a Dalit girl at Hathras, 200 km from the national capital, Yogi Adityanath government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the tragic incident. The  19-year-old  was allegedly gang-raped and later succumbed to her injuries in a Delhi hospital. All the four accused have been nabbed. The SIT  comprises Home Secretary Bhagwan Swaroop, DIG Chandra Prakash and IPS officer Poonam. The SIT will submit its report at the earliest. The Chief Minister has decided to send the case to a fast track court in order to ensure justice to the victim. All four accused have already been arrested. The state government has been facing massive criticism over the incident in which the Dalit girl was allegedly raped and strangulated on September 14 when she had gone to collect fodder from the field. The victim was shifted to Delhi on Monday after her condition deteriorated and finally succumbed to injuries on Tuesday. The Hathras Police have denied that the victim was sexually assaulted by the accused. The Uttar Pradesh Police is also accused of performing her last rites in her home town last night in the absence of her kin and minus their consent. The Hathras Police, however, rubbished the accusation. The ‘class-specific’ jungle raj of UP killed another young woman, says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said her party strongly condemns the wrong attitude of the police. “The cremation of Hathras gangrape victim by the Uttar Pradesh Police without handing over the body to the family or without their consent and in their absence in the dead of night is raising doubts and resentment, she said, asking for the Supreme Court to takes cognizance of the case. Image courtesy: Abhishek Mathur/BBC