Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
As shock and outrage surrounds the murder and possible rape of a young veterinary doctor in Hyderabad, Telangana Home Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali has made a bizarre comment, saying that the woman was educated and should have called 100 instead of her sister.
However, he clarified later, saying that she was like his daughter and that he hadn’t said anything like that.
Initially, reacting to the incident, Ali had said that he was saddened by the incident and that the woman should have called 100, and she would have been saved had she done so.
"Crime happens but I do not believe that any state in India can equal the degree to which crime is controlled in our state," Ali said, adding that police investigation was moving in a fast manner and the matter would be clear by Friday, 29 November evening.
"It is unfortunate that the doctor, despite being educated, called her sister and not '100'. Had she called 100 she could've been saved," he said.
He added that she had spoken to her sister on the phone for a while and if, instead, of doing that, she had called the police, they would have arrived at the spot in three to four minutes and she would have been saved. He added that they will build awareness about the ‘100’ number and make it known that it is there to help the public.
Speaking to the media later, Ali said that he did not mean his comment like that and that he was saying this for all the girls. “Our CM has formed ‘SHE Team’ which is doing great work. I said that she could have dialled 100 when she called her sister and precautions could have been taken. She’s my daughter. I am saddened,” Ali said.
The woman's burned body was found on Thursday, near an underpass, Chatanpally, about 50 km from Hyderabad city. It is suspected that the woman was raped and murdered before the assailants burned her body. The police have arrested four people in the incident.
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