UP: Dad of ‘rape victim’ dies in custody

Lucknow: The father of a woman, who had alleged that she was raped by a BJP MLA and his accomplices, died in police custody, on Monday.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who the girl claims to have approached for justice, said, “This is an unfortunate incident. I have spoken to top police officers in Lucknow. Those found guilty will not be spared and the government will not show any leniency.”

The woman’s father has been in Unnao jail since the past one week.

The woman and her family had attempted suicide outside chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s Lucknow residence in protest against police action.

“The man was admitted to the hospital late on Sunday night by the police after he complained of abdominal pain and vomiting. He passed away in the early morning hours” said Dr Atul of the district hospital in Unnao.

Station officer of Makhi police station and five other police personnel have been suspended for the custodial death. Principal home secretary,  Arvind Kumar, said that he had sought a report on the incident from the district administration and DG Jails.

Four accused named in the rape report have also been arrested.

The relatives, however, alleged that he was murdered at the behest of the BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, who had been named as an accused by the rape victim.

The woman and her family alleged that she was raped by the BJP MLA and his fellow accomplices, but no action was taken.

The victim also said that she and her family were threatened after they had filed an FIR last year after the rape incident in June 2017.

The family further alleged that the MLA’s brother had thrashed the woman’s father on April 3 for refusing to withdraw the FIR, but the police booked the father instead, and locked him up for a period of one year. A probe into the rape case is underway and has been transferred to Lucknow.