Hapur Woman Alleges Police Apathy In Complain Of Trafficking And Rape

In Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur village, a woman has alleged police inaction into her several complaints over custody of her three children, dowry and rape by some people. She is currently in a Delhi hospital as she is undergoing treatment for burns after she tried to self-immolate and received 80% burns on her body last month.

A widow in her 20s, she has also alleged that her father and aunt sold her for Rs 10,000 to a man who raped her repeatedly along with his friends according to Times of India. She also claimed that since the person who “bought” her was in debt, he further sold her services to his creditor who also gang-raped her on multiple occasions. When she tried to approach the police, they apparently neglected her complaints.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday said that it has ordered an inquiry into why no action was taken on the rape complaint it received last July from a woman in a village in Hapur district, Business Standard reported.

“The woman has earlier made several complaints to police over custody of her three children, dowry and rape by some people,” Hapur's Superintendent of Police Yesh Veer Singh told IANS. The woman first approached the police with a complaint against rape in July 2018 and the police have no idea whether a follow-up on it has been done or not.

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The woman has been married twice of which she married the first time at the age of 14 around 10 years ago. She lived with that man only for a year as they were separated after which she came back to her father’s house with a son from her first marriage. In 2011, her father allegedly sold her off to another man from Shyampur Jatt with whom she conceived another child. It was in 2014 when he allegedly further allowed his creditor to rape her repeatedly. He also threatened her to defame her in the village, as per the TOI report.

Singh has ordered a departmental inquiry into why Babugarh police station SHO did not take any action.

The woman has named a total of 16 people who allegedly raped her and none has been arrested so far. “On the basis of her complaint, 16 people have been booked. Till today, no arrest has been made in the case but we will take action after verifying the complaint and allegations... those who are accused will be arrested after collection of evidence,” said Singh.

After the complaint, a group of people from village Shyampur Jatt visited the police and gave them a memorandum which states that “the allegations made against them are not true. They have said that no such incident (of rape) has occurred and demanded a thorough probe before action,” SP said.

A widow in her 20s, has also alleged that her father and aunt sold her for Rs 10,000 to a man who raped her repeatedly along with his friends

Human Rights Commission Upset

Delhi Commission for Women wrote to UP CM Yogi Adityanath on police inaction in the gang-rape of Hapur woman. “The victim has suffered unimaginable harassment at the hands of the UP Police in Hapur who have refused to register an FIR despite repeated complaints. This insensitivity and shameful conduct of the UP Police compelled the victim to immolate herself due to which she has suffered over 80% burns and is currently undergoing treatment in Delhi,” DCW chief Swati Malliwal wrote in the letter.

The Commission has also requested the CM to ensure the release of adequate compensation to the victim and take necessary steps for her rehabilitation. Further, the Commission hopes that an inquiry shall be conducted to investigate the role of the Hapur Police in the matter and strictest action should be taken against those found guilty.

Besides DCW, National Human Rights Commission has also taken suo moto cognizance of the issue. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police, Government of Uttar Pradesh, calling for a detailed report of the treatment of the survivor, ensuring protection to her life and steps to be taken for her rehabilitation. The DGP has been further directed to inform the Commission in detail about the progress of the investigation and arrest, if any, be made to the perpetrators. It has called for both the reports within four weeks.

Picture credit: Hindustan Times

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