Hathras Accused Says Deceased Dalit Woman Was A Friend, Family Rejects Claim

The main accused in the alleged gangrape and murder of the 19-year-old Dalit woman from Hathras claimed in a letter that the girl was his friend and her family did not approve of their friendship. In a letter to Hathras Superintendent of police (SP) Vineet Jaiswal, the main accused (Sandeep) said that the family beat her up to such an extent that she became critical. 

Also Read: Politicians Making Sexist Remarks On Hathras Case Must Be Called Out

Aligarh district prison’s jailer Pramod Kumar Singh said, “The jail administration got the letter on Thursday, addressed to Hathras SP. It has been forwarded” reported The Times of India.  Jail superintendent Ashok Singh also confirmed the letter had been sent.

Sandeep wrote in the letter, “She (the girl) lived in my village and I was friendly with her. We would speak over the phone sometimes. Her family did not approve of this.” 

The accused further added, “I had met her on the day of the incident. Her mother and brother were with her.” He claimed that the girl asked him to leave. Later on, he got to know that she had been beaten up badly by her mother and brother.

The letter carries thumb impressions of all the accused, Sandeep, Lavkush, Ravi, and Ramu.

Also Read: Hathras Gangrape Case: Why We Cannot Afford Media’s Focus to Shift from Seeking Justice for Dalit Girl

However, the Dalit woman's family has dismissed the letter. The woman's father called the letter was a ploy to escape punishment reported The Indian Express.  

Also Read: Hathras Survivor Was Cremated At Night ‘To Avoid Large-Scale Violence’, Says UP Govt

On October 8, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote in a tweet that creating a narrative that "defames a woman’s character" and holds her responsible for crimes committed against her is "revolting and regressive."

..Her body has been burned without the participation or consent of her family.

SHE DESERVES JUSTICE NOT SLANDER.

2/2#बेशर्मBJP

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 8, 2020

Also Read: Protests Continue In Several Cities Over Hathras Gangrape

Yesterday, the girl’s family moved Allahabad High Court and filed a petition against the family's alleged illegal confinement at home. Reportedly, the family was being prevented from meeting or communicating with other people.

The Petition alleges that the Father, Mother, Two Brothers , Bhabhi and Dadi of the Victim are illegally detained by UP Govt#Hathras #HathrasCase #HathrasHorror #HathrasHorrorShocksIndia

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) October 8, 2020

They accused the district administration and alleged that they were detained in their own house on September 29 and 30. You can read more from here 

About the case

A 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gangraped by four upper-caste men in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh on September 14. She succumbed to the injuries from the assault at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on September 29, two weeks after the incident. It has been reported that her cremation was carried out against her family’s wish and the last rites were performed in the middle of the night “forcibly” by the Uttar Pradesh police.

Picture Credit: NDTV

Sagrika Giri is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.