Three days after a Dalit victim of sexual harassment died by falling from an ambulance in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar, her brother has said that the family is left with nothing and will continue to fight for justice. His younger brother, 18 years old was killed in August last year by some men after he refused to “settle” a case of harassment made against them by his sister in 2019.
The victim’s family also received phone calls from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday who promised them his party’s support.
In an X post, Mr. Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “ended the rule of law”. “I am just filled with hatred and hurt because of what the leaders of BJP have done to this Dalit family in Madhya Pradesh. It is disgraceful that under the BJP regime, culprits are supported by government instead of being empathetic to women victims,” he wrote.
Her uncle had died and they were allegedly beaten up on May 25th by some people following a clash before she too reportedly fell out of the ambulance carrying her uncles body home. Aged 18 last year, her sibling was killed whereas their mother was stripped naked and assaulted as well as raped according to reports.
What do we have now? My siblings are dead and our uncle who witnessed my brother’s killing also got killed. So now except fighting for justice we have nothing else left. My mother is also a witness in the August case,” says the 21-year-old brother speaking over phone.
CBI probe sought
“We want CBI enquiry into all this because she told her brother that she feared danger to her life after their uncle’s death” claims the boy while pointing at his sister.
“Earlier this month, they removed security arrangements provided after my younger brother was murdered last year without informing us about it at all; even how did she fall down from ambulance police is not telling us. We have been receiving threats and harassment from the accused people and local politicians for almost a year now,” he said.
He stated that since his younger brother died, he had also been beaten up several times, while police officials in their area registered fake cases against him.
Tomorrow, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will visit this family. The girl’s brother said the local authorities had been asking his family members what they plan to tell the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Following her death, opposition Congress attacked ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing it of being partial to suspected offenders rather than victims.
On Tuesday, State Congress president Jitu Patwari visited the victim’s family in Barodia Nonagir village. After speaking with Mr. Gandhi, the girl’s brother alleged that administration was “pressurizing” them and police was not including names of certain suspects. In response, Mr.Gandhi tells him to explain everything to state Congress President in Hindi.
Mr.Patwari posted a video of their conversation on X. The girl’s brother added that among witness’ to his younger brother’s murder case was their uncle as well.
Rahul’s assurance
“Do not worry I will be with you all my life and I am ready to do anything for you”, says Mr. Gandhi through phone call
“The law is their only recourse and such occurrences destroy the resolve of anyone who has no other option,” Gandhi Mr. wrote on his X post.
A pitiful event, according to Priyanka
“Whilst BJP doesn’t want them to live with dignity, these are communities they have historically oppressed – women, Dalits, tribals, backward people” she said.
“From the wrestler sisters in Delhi to Hathras-Unnao victims or this tragic incidence wherever women were brutalized Modi ji and his government have been shielding the culprits. When these girls cried out for justice their families were destroyed,” she said on X on Monday evening.
On Monday Digvijaya Singh visited her family and asked for District Collector Sagar and Superintendent of Police to be removed from office due to the woman’s death; he added that her police security was rescinded ten days before the incident occurred.
The Congress party has also questioned the cause of her death while local police opened inquest proceedings into it.
“She fell down talking over phone as per those present in ambulance with her. The matter is still under investigation whether she fell down accidentally or intentionally jumped,” said SDPO (sub-divisional police officer) Khurai Sachin Parte.
One person held for uncle’s murder
While four accused are at large one man has been arrested by local cops for killing girl’s uncle. “After being beaten up by some men during a clash between two groups he died later. We have arrested an accused named Fahim and will soon catch hold of other four accuseds,” said Mr. Parte.
Moreover, even though a case had already registered at Khurai Police Station under IPC Section 307 and also under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, charges of murder came later after his death.
However another police personnel denied that he was uncle to deceased girl. “He was a friend of the girl’s brother who was killed in August last year,” the officer told The Hindu.
12 out of 13 persons booked for murdering her younger brother in August, 2023, are in jail currently while one is out on bail, said Mr. Parte.
