Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a chilling re-run of the Hathras case, the family of a minor rape victim who died after allegedly taking an overdose of sleeping pills in Bhopal, claimed that the police forcefully conducted her cremation.
Victim's mother's claim
The mother of the deceased 17-year-old said that after the girl's death, her father and uncle wanted to bring her body back home.
She claimed that the police did not allow the family to take the body home, and instead took the body straight to the Bhadbhada crematorium from the Government Hamidia Hospital.
The girl who allegedly took sleeping pills was a rape victim The woman further claimed that the family wanted to put their daughter to rest as per rituals, but the police forced them to sign. They took us to the crematorium in a vehicle and conducted the last rites, the woman alleged.
Read:Cops inspect rape case accused bungalow in Indore
Didn't want law and order to be disturbed: Police
However, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ramsnehi Mishra said that since the girl died in mysterious circumstances, it was the police's responsibility to keep a close watch on all developments. He added that the last rites were conducted under the surveillance of the police to ensure that the law and order situation does not go out of hand.
Girl was a rape victim
In July last year, a case was registered against the accused Pyare Miyan (68), who runs a local newspaper, of raping five minor girls on several occasions.
The girl who allegedly took sleeping pills was one of the victims, police said.
Read:Main accused in Bhopal rape case nabbed in J-K
The five victims had been kept in a government shelter home in view of the security. Of them, two girls fell ill and were admitted to the hospital on Monday night, police said.
One of them allegedly consumed an excess dose of sleeping pills, police said, adding that the district collector had ordered the magisterial inquiry into the matter.
Victims yet to give testimony
Pertinently, while the accused Pyare Miyan is currently behind bars and the trial in the case is underway in the district court, the victims are yet to give their testimony.
Will request CM for investigation: Home Minister
Meanwhile, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra that DIG Bhopal was in constant touch with the victim's family. "However, I will request the Chief Minister to launch an investigation into the matter," he said.
Congress slams Shivraj government
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh and said the government is unable to deal with such cases in a humane manner.
"How many times will inhumanity like Hathras be repeated? The BJP government has not only failed in the matter of women's security, but is also unable to deal with victims and their families in a humane manner," Gandhi wrote in a tweet in Hindi.
Meanwhile, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath demanded a CBI investigation into the matter and said the other rape victims in the case must be provided full state security.
"Innocent girls who are victims of sexual exploitation in the state capital are not safe? How inhuman, to not let the dead victim reach her home. Her family was also denied the last rites, what a ruthless system. The matter is very serious, the matter should be investigated by CBI, and the remaining girls should also be given full security," he said in a tweet.
