Lucknow: In a grim reminder of the infamous Badaun incident, a teenage Dalit girl was raped and her body was found hanging from a tree in Nighasan area in Lakhimpur district, the police said on Thursday.
According to the police, the body of a 16 year-old girl was found hanging from a tree on Tuesday and the post mortem report, received on Wednesday, confirmed that the victim was raped before her death.
Earlier, the victim’s parents suspected it to be a case of suicide but after the post mortem report, her father lodged an FIR against two youth from the same village.
Station incharge, Ram Kumar Yadav, said a case of rape and murder has been lodged against Manoj and Dharmesh on the basis of her father’s complaint.
"Investigation is in progress and the accused would be arrested soon," he said.
Citing the incident as a proof, opposition parties attacked the Uttar Pradesh government for the "deteriorating" law and order situation
"The entire state has turned into a jungle raj. People are feeling insecure...crime graph has shot up. We wanted to raise the issue in the state Assembly, but the government is avoiding a debate on it," senior BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya said.
BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said the government made tall promises of security to women, but has failed to fulfil it. All its schemes like 1090 women helpline have failed.
"The law and order machinery is hanging from trees," he remarked, adding women were not safe in UP.
Pathak demanded action against police personnel who did not take cognisance of the incident.
Congress MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singh said law and order was nowhere visible in UP.
"Criminals do not fear the government or police and people are feeling insecure," he claimed.
