AGRA: More than two years after it made nationwide headlines, a special show SC/ST court in UP Hathras The district on Thursday convicted the main defendant but acquitted three others of all charges in the murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in 2020. The court stated that of the four defendants – Sandeep, Ravi, Luv Kush and Ramu – only Sandeep found guilty of culpable murder is not murder” but no rape“, and was sentenced to life in prison.
On September 14, 2020, the victim’s family alleges that the girl was dragged into a farm by four upper-class men and assaulted in a village in Hathras, leaving her with multiple broken bones, Multiple deep incisions on the body and tongue, and paralysis. It eventually led to her death on September 29 at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi during her treatment. In her dying statement before the judge in Aligarh, she “named four defendants”. Her family later alleged that she was gang-raped.
What added to the outrage was that the body was hastily cremated at midnight in a vacant lot near the victim’s home. Her family alleges that they were “forced” by police to conduct her final rites quietly and quickly. They said it was done “without their consent”. However, police said the cremation was done “according to the wishes of the family”.
On Thursday, Sandeep was found guilty under sections of SC/ST and IPC Act 304 (criminal murder), a lesser charge than section 302 (murder). The court also fined him Rs 50,000. All four defendants were brought before the court amid tight security.
After the sentencing, the girl’s brother said: “Is this justice? The whole world has seen what they (the defendant) did to my sister…”
The dalit family’s lawyer said, “We will appeal at HC. I have full confidence that others have also been convicted.”
On September 14, 2020, the victim’s family alleges that the girl was dragged into a farm by four upper-class men and assaulted in a village in Hathras, leaving her with multiple broken bones, Multiple deep incisions on the body and tongue, and paralysis. It eventually led to her death on September 29 at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi during her treatment. In her dying statement before the judge in Aligarh, she “named four defendants”. Her family later alleged that she was gang-raped.
What added to the outrage was that the body was hastily cremated at midnight in a vacant lot near the victim’s home. Her family alleges that they were “forced” by police to conduct her final rites quietly and quickly. They said it was done “without their consent”. However, police said the cremation was done “according to the wishes of the family”.
On Thursday, Sandeep was found guilty under sections of SC/ST and IPC Act 304 (criminal murder), a lesser charge than section 302 (murder). The court also fined him Rs 50,000. All four defendants were brought before the court amid tight security.
After the sentencing, the girl’s brother said: “Is this justice? The whole world has seen what they (the defendant) did to my sister…”
The dalit family’s lawyer said, “We will appeal at HC. I have full confidence that others have also been convicted.”
