Father of UP rape victim dies in custody

The father of an 18-year-old woman, who had alleged that she was raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brothers, died in custody on Monday. The girl had tried to immolate herself outside CM Yogi Adityanath’s residence on Sunday but the attempt was thwarted by the police.

The family of the girl has now alleged that the father was killed inside the jail by supporters of the BJP MLA, a charge rubbished by him. Six policemen have been suspended and the government as well as the police have assured a speedy probe.

According to a report in CNN IBN, the girl’s now deceased father, aged 50, was sent to Unnao jail after an altercation with the BJP MLA’s younger brother and the leader’s supporters on April 5. He was shifted to the district hospital by jail authorities after complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. He died in the early hours of Monday but the reasons behind his death could not be ascertained.

The news of the death spread like wildfire with opposition parties slamming the BJP government, even as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath promised action against the guilty. The rape survivor’s family is putting the entire blame for the father’s death at the doorstep of the lawmaker, who rejected the charge as a conspiracy and said the complainant belonged to "low class".

YOGI LAND

6 cops suspended but no action against BJP MLA accused of rape; rather, MLA shrugs of victim’s kin as of ‘low status’

"They belong to a low status family ('nimn star ke log hain')...This is a conspiracy by my opponents," Sengar told reporters. The victim is adamant that her family had received threats in the past and blamed the MLA. ‘‘My father was killed at the behest of the BJP MLA" inside the jail, she alleged. Uttar Pradesh's Power Minister and government spokesman Shrikant Sharma told reporters that a magisterial probe had been ordered. Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed the police inaction. "A young woman accuses the MLA of rape. Instead of arresting the MLA, the police takes the father of the girl into custody. Immediately after that, he dies. The accused BJP MLA is still roaming free," he tweeted, tagging a news report on the case.