UP: Dalit sisters found hanging were raped, strangled to death
What's the story
Two minor sisters hailing from the Dalit community were found hanging from a tree in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The autopsy report confirmed that the girls had been raped and strangled to death. Six accused have been arrested in the case, SP Sanjiv Suman said. UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak assured swift action and justice in the case.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The region has witnessed similar crimes against women in the past. In 2020, within two weeks, three minor girls were raped and murdered in separate incidents in Lakhimpur Kheri. In Badaun district in 2014, two Dalit sisters were found hanging, following which the CBI investigated allegations of gang-rape and murder. In 2020, a Dalit woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Hathras.
Twitter Post
Accused coaxed and took away the girls with them: SP
Video: Two Muslim youths first befriended the two minor Dalit sisters and then raped murdered them in an agriculture field in Nighasan, says #LakhimpurKheri SP Sanjiv Suman
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) September 15, 2022
Rumours about post-mortem examination without the family's consent are totally false, he adds. pic.twitter.com/BQGXy5kGXh
Accused
One of the accused was caught after an encounter
The accused were identified as Chhotu, Junaid, Suhail, Kareemuddin, Arif, and Hafeez-ur-Rehman. Junaid was nabbed after being shot in the leg in an encounter. Suhail and Junaid lured them to the farm and raped them. Hafeez helped them strangle the sisters and called Arif and Kareemuddin to hang the bodies. Chhotu was the victims' neighbor and had got them in touch with the accused.
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Opposition should not politicize the matter: Maurya
लखीमपुर खीरी में बेटियों के साथ दुष्कर्म कर हत्या करने वाले अपराधियों जल्द गिरफ़्तार कर कठोरतम कार्रवाई की जाएगी,अपराधियों को पकड़ने के लिए पुलिस कार्रवाई की जा रही है! सरकार पीड़ित परिवार के साथ है! मुद्दा विहीन विपक्ष ऐसे मामलों में राजनीति न करे!
— Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) September 15, 2022
Information
Found hanging with the same scarf
The incident occurred in Tamoli Purwa village under Nighasan police station. The victims were found hanging with a single scarf in a sugarcane field, around 500 meters from their house. One of the sisters' legs was almost touching the ground. IG Laxmi Singh and SP Sanjiv Suman reached the spot to pacify the agitating family members and locals, assuring them of strict action.
Twitter Post
Claims of postmortem without parents' consent false: SP
निघासन पुलिस थाना क्षेत्र में 2 दलित बहनों को अगवा करने के बाद उनकी हत्या और उसके बाद पुलिस पर पिता का ये आरोप बेहद गंभीर है कि बिना पंचनामा और सहमति के उनका पोस्टमार्टम किया गया।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 14, 2022
लखीमपुर में किसानों के बाद अब दलितों की हत्या ‘हाथरस की बेटी’ हत्याकांड की जघन्य पुनरावृत्ति है। pic.twitter.com/gFmea4bAUc
Statements
Clothes intact, no injury marks on body: Police
The mother claimed the two girls, aged 15 and 17, were cutting fodder while she was inside a shack when three men arrived on motorcycles from the neighboring village. They dragged them to the sugarcane field nearby. When the mother tried to resist, they kicked her down, reported Navbharat Times. The girls' clothes were intact with no injury except on their necks, said police.