Hathras rape and murder: UP court acquits three accused, convicts one

On Thursday 2 March, a special court in Uttar Pradesh acquitted three accused in the Hathras rape and murder case and found one person guilty.

All four accused – Sandeep (20), Ravi (35), Luv Kush (23), and Ramu (26) – were produced before the court.

Accused Ravi, Ramu and Luv Kush were acquitted by a local court today while the main accused Sandeep was sentenced under IPC Sec 304 and the SC/ST Act. Sandeep was found guilty under section 304 (punishment for manslaughter not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections of the SC/ST Act.

"None of the accused has charges of rape or murder," Mahipal Singh, a lawyer representing the victim's family, told reporters outside the court, adding that they will appeal the decision in the Allahabad High Court.

"The incidents that took place after the death of the victim on 09.29.2020 that led to her cremation have, as alleged, shocked our conscience, therefore we are taking cognizance of them," the High Court noted.

The girl's family reportedly said that she is not satisfied with the court's verdict and that she would appeal the case to the High Court. The Hathras District Court will hear arguments against the sentence later today.

The case concerns the 2020 incident in which a Dalit minor was brutally gang-raped by four upper caste men in Hathras of Uttar Pradesh on 14 September 2020. She died on September 29 at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital during treatment.

The victim was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men, who also strangled her with her own dupatta (scarf) and left her for dead in the fields. She was found paralyzed and seriously injured and was later transferred to a hospital in Delhi, where she succumbed to her injuries two weeks later.

Hathras rape and murder case

The Hathras case sparked a huge protest across the country after the Uttar Pradesh police and district administration forcibly cremated the victim in the middle of the night against the family's wishes, fueling allegations. of a cover-up by Yogi Adityanath- run the government.

The case sparked outrage across the country due to the brutal nature of the crime and the mishandling of the case by the local authorities, who were accused of suppressing evidence, tampering with the victim's body, and harassing her family.

The Uttar Pradesh police also faced criticism for their insensitive behavior towards the victim's family and for initially denying that the victim had been raped.

The incident led to widespread protests and demands for justice for the victim, with many calling for stricter laws to protect women and marginalized communities.

ALSO READ

• Unnao and Hathras case misplaced: Yogi Adityanath
• Hathras case: CBI admits gang rape and murder of Dalit girl, chargesheet filed
• Hathras Gangrape: PM Modi spoke to CM Yogi
• FIR against Chandrashekhar Azad, 400 others after Hathras visit

Follow Ground Report for Climate Change and Under-Reported issues in India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected].