One year on, rape victim still fighting for justice

New Delhi: The recent gruesome incident in Unnao, where a rape victim with nearly 90 per cent burns injury walked for nearly one kilometre before she got help, reminded people of another such appalling act in connection to which BJP MLA Kuldip Sengar was arrested.

The case had shocked the nation last year and the victim is still fighting for justice. It was April last year when news broke, that a rape victim attempted to immolate herself in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence. Soon, the news made it to national headlines and caught the attention of the entire country.

The case witnessed some major controversy when the rape survivor's father, who was arrested by UP police, died in police custody due to alleged custodial torture. After his death, the allegations against Sengar came into the limelight.

During the course of the investigation, the case was handed over to CBI and Sengar was arrested. Later in July this year, a car which in which the victim along with her family members and their lawyer was travelling was hit by an over-speeding truck at Rae Bareli. After the road accident both the aunts of the Unnao rape survivor died. The victim had received serious injuries during the incident.

In August this year, the victim was flown to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre in Delhi from Lucknow for better treatment. Later the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) was ordered by the court to provide residence to her. According to DCW, the court has also directed the chairperson, women commission to oversee the rehabilitation of the girl.

Furthermore, in August this year, the CBI told a Delhi court that allegations of rape levelled against the expelled BJP MLA, Sengar is true. The CBI officials had said that the investigation in the case has revealed that Sengar had, in fact, conspired with his co-accused Shashi Singh and then raped the Unnao teenager on June 4, 2017, at his home. The victim had told the central probe agency that Singh had taken her to Sengar's home in Unnao through the backdoor under the pretext of arranging a meeting with the legislator. She had said that Sengar, had then taken her into his room and raped her.