Father of girl who alleged rape by MLA, dies in custody

lucknow — A day after an 18-year-old girl tried to set herself on fire outside the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s residence, alleging police inaction in her gang rape by a BJP MLA, her father died in police custody on Monday.

Following this, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended four police officers, including the Station House Officer of Makhi, Ashok Shukla, and three constables, and arrested four persons who were aides to the MLA.

Surendra Singh, whose daughter accused BJP legislator from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar of raping her, was picked up by the police late on Sunday and was apparently beaten mercilessly by four aides of the legislator and the police.

An official said the man had serious injuries on his body and was not taken to a hospital till late in the night. A doctor at the district hospital, where he was eventually taken, told the media that he was brought with serious abdominal pain and vomiting.

Unnao Superintendent of Police Pushpanjali Devi said the four aides who took part in the beating have been arrested.

Inspector General of Police Praveen Kumar said a magisterial probe had been ordered.

The daughter of the deceased had on Sunday tried to immolate herself, alleging that she was gang-raped by the BJP MLA and his brothers.