Hathras Case: SIT Report Raises Questions On Arrangements Made For The Cremation Of Survivor

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the Hathras gangrape case has raised questions over the late-night cremation of the deceased survivor. The team submitted its report on the gangrape and murder case of the 19-year-old Dalit woman on Monday. The three-member team has questioned the arrangements made for her cremation. 

According to Times Now, further action might be taken against police officers involved in the deceased woman's late-night cremation. It has been alleged that the cremation was conducted "forcibly" without the consent of her family. As per news reports, her family was locked in their own house when the woman's body was brought back to the village following her death while undergoing treatment in Delhi. When the family became suspicious that the woman's body was taken away to perform the last rites in the middle of the night, her father said that it was “against their traditions” and insisted on conducting the cremation the next morning. However, the authorities allegedly forced the family to cremate the body despite that.

However, in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government justified the late-night cremation of the gangrape survivor saying that the state was on alert due to the then pending Babri Masjid verdict and coronavirus. Later on, the Allahabad High Court issued an order in the Hathras gangrape case and questioned the late-night cremation of the woman.  

Also Read: Hathras girl was in touch with the key accused says news report

Special Investigation Team

The Special Investigation Team for Hathras gangrape case is headed by the Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Bhagwan Swaroop. The team comprises Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Chandraprakash and Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Poonam.

As per the report, the SIT was initially asked to submit its report on October 7 but two extensions were granted to the team by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.

Also Read: Is It Fair To Compare Hathras To Nirbhaya For Political Vendetta?

About the Hathras gang-rape case

A 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gangraped by four upper-caste men in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh on September 14. She died at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on September 29, two weeks after the incident. 

 The UP government faced intense criticism over its handling of the Hathras case. The state government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath then recommended a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the case.

Also Read: CCTV Footage From Hospital Where Hathras Survivor Was Taken On The Day Of The Incident “Deleted”

Recently, the Supreme Court of India directed Allahabad High Court to monitor the CBI probe in the Hathras gang-rape case. The order came on a PIL (Public interest litigation) filed by social activist Satyama Dubey demanding a court-monitored probe into the case. 

Sagrika Giri is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.