Unnao: Rape accused gets bail, survivor sets herself ablaze

The survivor suffered 70 percent burns after she attempted to commit suicide by setting herself ablaze outside the District Police Office. She is admitted to Hallet Hospital in Kanpur. The survivor is a graduate living with her parents and brothers while the accused is an agricultural labourer. According to eyewitnesses she soaked herself in an inflammable substance, and after reaching the district police office, set herself afire. She ran towards the police premises, still engulfed in fire which was doused by the officers. She remains critical.

If this is indeed a case of abetment, this is no different from the case witnessed by this country in Unnao itself, hardly two weeks ago, whereby a rape survivor was set on fire by men accused of raping her and few others. She succumbed to her injuries few days later. In this case as well the rape accused were set free on bail.

In a chargesheet filed on December 13, the main accused Awadhesh Singh has been charged for rape and 3 other accused, namely, Raju, Sarvesh and his wife Rachna have been charged for criminal intimidation.

In her rape complaint, the survivor alleged that Awadhesh Singh had been sexually exploiting her for last 10 years on pretext of marriage and was also extorting money from her. When she asked him to marry her, he refused and instead threatened to kill her. She also stated that FIR was not registered despite of submitting complaint to District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police. She also stated that all 4 accused had come to her house and had tried to kill her. She apprehended that the accused can kill her any time and that they are pressurizing her to compromise. There was clear apprehension of threat to her life and yet anticipatory bail was granted to a person accused of rape.