Hathras victim’s family leaves for Lucknow to appear before HC

AGRA: Five members of the Hathras gang rape victim’s family left for Lucknow amid tight security early on Monday to appear before the high court to testify on the hasty midnight cremation of the 19-year-old Dalit girl who died on September 29.
A convoy of six vehicles left at 5.50am on Monday. SDM Anjali Gangwar told media persons that proper security arrangements were made for the victim’s family. She said, “DM Praveen K Laxkar and SP Vineet Jaiswal will also be going with them.”

On being asked about the family’s interaction with the CM Yogi Adityanath, the SDM said that they will reach directly to the court and there is no information of any such meeting so far.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court will hold its first hearing after taking suo motu cognisance of the alleged gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Hathras. Apart from victim’s kin, senior police and administrative officials, including UP’s director general of police (DGP) Hitesh Chandra Awasthy will also be present in the court.
Taking a stern view of the matter, the division bench comprising justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh had on October 1 said, “We are inclined to examine as to whether there has been gross violation of the fundamental rights of the deceased victim and the family members of the victim. Whether the state authorities have acted oppressively high-handedly and illegally to violate such rights as if it is found to be so, then, this would be a case where accountability will not only have to be fixed but for future guidance also stern action would be required.”
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)