In fresh developments in the Unnao rape case, the CBI has filed yet another case naming Shubham Singh and Awadesh Tiwari as accused in the kidnapping and rape of a minor girl in Unnao. Charges have been filed under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offensec (POCSO) Act. Earlier FIRs had been filed in the case for kidnapping, rape and rioting (that led to the father’s death).
Image: Hindustan Times
The girl, who was a minor when she was allegedly raped in June 2017, had filed an FIR against UP BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar who she named as the perpetrator. However, no action was taken after nearly one year and the survivor’s family began facing harassment. In fact the police filed a case against the survivor’s father under the Arms Act after he was allegedly beaten up by Anil Singh, one of Sengar’s brothers. The survivor’s father was taken in into custody on April 5, 2018.
The survivor protested by attempting suicide outside UP CM Adityanath’s house on April 8, 2018. Just the next day the girl’s father died under mysterious circumstances while still in police custody. The survivor alleged that he was beaten to death at the behest of Sengar and his brother. Indeed, his autopsy report shows he died of shock and septicaemia. However this was made to look like a death during a rioting incident while in custody.
An SIT probe was subsequently ordered into both, the rape case as well as the case of custodial torture and death. Kuldeep’s brother Atul Singh Sengar was arrested on April 10.
Though the Allahabad High Court ordered Sengar’s arrest, he was only detained by the CBI and not arrested. The Adityanath administration came under scathing criticism by the court for its lackadaisical attitude towards the case. The fourth case names Subham Singh and Awadesh Tiwari, who took the girl on the pretext of giving her a job, but raped her on the way in the car. She was subsequently held captive in Shubham’s house and raped by other people including Sengar. The Allahabad HC has also asked the investigation agency to file a status report on May 2.