New Delhi: The 19-year-old Dalit woman who was raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district a fortnight ago died in Delhi on Tuesday morning.
The woman was shifted to AIIMS on Monday after her condition showed no signs of improvement. She was earlier admitted to the Aligarh Muslim University’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital.
The accused had also tried to strangulate her to death and, according to an NDTV report, the woman suffered multiple fractures and her tongue had been slashed in the brutal assault.
A spokesman of the hospital had said that the woman’s legs had been completely paralysed and arms partially paralysed.
All four attackers are in jail, the report said.
The incident took place on September 14 in Hathras, around 200 km from Delhi. The woman’s brother told NDTV that his family members had gone to the field to get some grass. While his elder brother went home earlier, his mother and sister continued to cut the grass. They were quite far from each other. Four-five men came from behind and dragged his sister by her dupatta inside the bajra field.
On realising her daughter was missing, the mother went looking for her and later found her unconscious.
The woman’s family has accused the Uttar Pradesh police of not helping them initially but took action only after four-five days, the report said. However, the state police have denied this allegation made by the family members of the woman.
The woman belonged to a Scheduled Caste, while the attackers were from an upper caste.
Data on crime against women
According to a report released in January by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh is ranked as the worst for women’s security, followed by Madhya Pradesh as the state where rape is most rampant.
The total number of cases of crime against women in 2018 stood at 378,277, of which Uttar Pradesh alone had 59,445 cases of crimes against women. Madhya Pradesh registered the maximum number of rapes at 5,450, nearly 15 a day.
The overall number of crimes against women has risen steadily from 322,929 in 2016, to 345,989 in 2017, and 378,277 in 2018.
Bollywood reacts to victim’s death
Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar, Richa Chadha among others have reacted to the death of the Dalit woman from Uttar Pradesh, and called for “serious punishment” to curb such violence.
Angry & Frustrated!Such brutality in #Hathras gangrape.When will this stop?Our laws & their enforcement must be so strict that the mere thought of punishment makes rapists shudder with fear!Hang the culprits.Raise ur voice to safeguard daughters & sisters-its the least we can do
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) September 29, 2020
The culprits of this brutality & horrific crime should be hanged in public. #Hathras https://t.co/KHCnLqtGOh
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) September 29, 2020
#JusticeForHathrasVictim 🏹 everyone deserves to live with dignity. Punish the perpetrators.
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) September 29, 2020
💔 Sad sad day. How much longer can this be allowed to go on .. #Hathras
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) September 29, 2020
Swara Bhasker said the brutal gangrape was a reminder that there’s no limit to monstrosity. “We have become a sick, inhuman society. Shameful. Saddening,” the actor said.
Actor Yami Gautam said it was disgusting that women are subjected to endless brutality. “Tried really hard to gather my thoughts before expressing my sorrow, anger and disgust. It’s 2020 and still so many Nirbhayas have to give their lives.”
According to the Hathras SP, the four accused, who have already been arrested, will now also face charges under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
(With inputs from PTI)