Two days before court hearing, a rape survivor shot dead in UP

Rape survivors  face threats from the family, friends of the accused (specially if he is an influential person), often forcing them to withdraw the case against them. Incase, the survivor refuses to succumb to their warnings, the results can be chilling. In a yet another incident in Uttar Pradesh, a rape victim was shot dead, just two days before she was to make an appearance in court as witness.

The 18-year old girl and her brother were on their way to visit  a doctor when bike borne youths allegedly shot the victim in Bijapur village in Dakshintola area in Mau district. The attack was so fierce that the girl died on the spot, reports NDTV.

The accused, BK Singh also the manager of a local college where the girl studied has been facing trial in a local court for allegedly raping her on June 6, 2011. Since then, the victim’s family has been facing tremendous pressure from the prosecution to withdraw the case. In fact, her family has alleged that their daughter has been killed on the orders of the accused says the police.

The accused has also been alleged of framing the girl’s brother in a murder case of a peon (of the same college), where the family claims that BK Singh is involved. He has also been alleged of raping the victim’s elder sister who allegedly committed suicide after getting pregnant.

"We are investigating the case and the guilty will not be spared," said senior Superintendent of Police, Sunil Kumar reports PTI.

We have always been arguing that there should be a fast track court and good judgement, but we find that the police doesn't really investigate the case properly," said Rita Bahuguna Joshi, a senior Congress leader and MLA from Lucknow Cantt constituency. She further added that by the time the court hearing  starts, the girl's family already comes under a lot of pressure. Rape survivors are murdered blatantly in UP as the police fails to curb such incidences.

Such cases are a poignant reminder of our system's failure to promulgate laws providing protection to witnesses or victims fighting for justice in the country.

Photo Credit: dnaindia.com