New Delhi: The rape survivor from Unnao, who was beaten up, stabbed and set ablaze by five men, including two of the accused, while she was on her way to a court in Rae Bareli to attend a hearing in the rape case, has been airlifted to Delhi and admitted to the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital on Thursday evening.
The Delhi Traffic Police provided a “green corridor” of 13 km for hindrance-free movement of the ambulance carrying her from the airport to the hospital.
Hospital sources said that the victim had sustained about 90% extensive burn injuries and is extremely critical and on a ventilator.
“We have set up a dedicated ICU room for the patient. A team of doctors would be monitoring her health condition,” Dr Sunil Gupta, medical superintendent at Safdarjung Hospital, told PTI.
The victim will be under the observation of Dr Shalab Kumar, head of burn and plastic surgery at the hospital.
A team of members from the women commission from UP has also reached the hospital.
The five accused – Harishankar Trivedi, Ram Kishore Trivedi, Umesh Bajpai, Shivam and Shubham Trivedi – involved in the attack on the victim were arrested hours after the incident.
According to a report in India Today, the Unnao rape survivor had alleged, in her statement to the magistrate, that Shivam and Shubham Trivedi had abducted and raped her in December 2018 and that she had subsequently filed a case against the two in March 2019. Shubham was recently granted bail on November 30, 2019.
The victim claimed that after Shubham started threatening her, she visited the police station close to the Sindupur village in Unnao with her family but the police were unhelpful.
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A day after the incident, Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi slammed UP chief minister Adityanath for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state in response to news of Unnao victim.
कल देश के गृह मंत्री और उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री ने साफ-साफ झूठ बोला कि यूपी की क़ानून व्यवस्था अच्छी हो चुकी।
हर रोज ऐसी घटनाओं को देखकर मन में रोष होता है। भाजपा नेताओं को भी अब फर्जी प्रचार से बाहर निकलना चाहिए।https://t.co/XGqvqu7Dxd
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 5, 2019
Speaking to NDTV, Uttar Pradesh minister Ranvendra Pratap Singh said, in response to questions about women’s safety after the Unnao victim was set on fire, that “not even Lord Ram” could guarantee 100% security.
“When there is a society, then to say 100% there will be no crime – this assurance I do not think even Lord Ram could give,” Singh said. “So a 100% surety is not there. But this much is sure – if there is a crime, then the accused will go to jail and he will be punished.”
Police personnel investigate at the site where a rape victim was allegedly set ablaze by five men at Sindupur village in Unnao district, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. Photo: PTI
After Thursday’s incident, the National Commission for Women wrote to the Uttar Pradesh police chief, asking for an action-taken report at the earliest, according to ANI.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath has directed senior police and state administration officials to investigate the matter closely. Adityanath has also reportedly asked the police to ensure strict action against the guilty and ensure their conviction in court.
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“The CM has directed the divisional commissioner and IG, Lucknow zone, to visit the spot and submit a report to him by the evening,” additional chief secretary, information and home department, Awanish Awasthi told India Today.
The incident in Unnao comes days after a veterinarian was allegedly raped and burnt alive in Telangana. The incident prompted widespread outrage across the country about issues regarding women’s safety.
(With inputs from PTI)