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A day after the father of an 18-year-old woman, who has alleged rape by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brothers, died in custody in Unnao, one of the brothers of the lawmaker – Atul Singh – was arrested in connection with the incident. Along with Atul Singh, three others were also arrested, reported ANI.
Meanwhile, accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar dubbed the charges against him as a conspiracy, saying that the complainant belonged to a "low-class".
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, 10 April, the woman who has levelled rape allegations against Sengar said:
The death of her father prompted the woman to put the blame on the lawmaker.
He was "killed at the behest of the BJP MLA" inside the jail, she alleged. "We were getting threats and they killed my father," she told the media.
Moreover, a day before his death, the woman and her family attempted suicide outside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence. The woman had even tried to immolate herself outside Adityanath’s office on 8 April.
The woman's father, aged around 50, was rushed to a hospital from the district jail on the night of 8 April and died during treatment on Monday, officials told PTI. He had been arrested on 5 April under the Arms Act, they added.
On Monday, 9 April, Adityanath responded to the father’s death, saying that he has asked the Lucknow Additional Director General Rajeev Kumar to probe the matter. Those responsible will not be spared, he added.
The Unnao SP said six policemen, including Makhi SHO Ashok Kumar Singh, the outpost in-charge and four beat constables were suspended. According to Inspector General of Police Praveen Kumar, a magisterial probe has been ordered to investigate his death.
Significantly, a case had been registered against four persons a few days back on a complaint by the deceased's wife that he was beaten up.
In the meantime, Sengar, who represents the Bangermau constituency in Unnao, has rejected the charges against him as conspiracy by his opponents, saying that the complainant belonged to a "low-class".
Speaking to the media, he demanded a high-level inquiry and sought action against those guilty.
“Let a probe be conducted, and the guilty be given the stringent punishment. If I am found guilty in the probe, I am ready to face punishment,” he said.
To a question whether he will resign, Sengar said:
Later on 9 April, a copy of the FIR registered in the rape case revealed that Sengar’s name was not mentioned in it, reported ANI.
The sister of the survivor, on Monday, demanded that the MLA and his brother, Atul Singh, be named in the FIR and arrested.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi had lashed out at the Yogi Adityanth-led government in UP on Monday, questioning the father’s alleged “custodial” death, and asking why the MLA had not been arrested yet.
An unverified video of the victim’s father in the custody of police had also gone viral. In the video, one can see the man with injuries, due to which he allegedly passed away.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police OP Singh had said that a team has been formed to investigate the death of the rape survivor’s father, and that the accused would be arrested.
“He was admitted to hospital last night by the police after he complained of abdominal pain and vomiting. He passed away early morning,” Dr Atul of District Hospital, Unnao, told ANI.
The woman had attempted suicide by pouring kerosene on herself after alleging rape by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. No action had been taken regarding the matter despite several complaints to the police and the party, she said.
The rape had allegedly taken place in May 2017.
Speaking to ANI, the woman alleged:
The Times of India reported that the woman had moved court under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC in an attempt to get an FIR registered against Sengar. However, on 2 April, supporters of the MLA reportedly barged inside the woman’s house and beat up her father and brother in retaliation.
The ADG has said both parties were in a dispute since 10 to 12 years.
(With inputs from ANI and The Times of India)
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Published: 08 Apr 2018,06:22 PM IST