Hathras horror: After massive outrage UP govt suspends SP, DSP, 3 others

New Delhi: Even as her ashes and bones from the pyre are yet to be collected for further rituals, the gang-rape and murder of the 19-year-old Dalit woman has led Hathras to become the hotbed of protests with prominent political figures trying to visit the victim's family and being accosted, shoved and pushed to the ground, in turn, with countrywide protests breaking out seeking justice.

In a series of developments on Friday evening, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the suspension of Superintendent of Police Vikrant Vir, DSP Ram Shabd, Inspector Dinesh Verma, Sub-Inspector Jagveer Singh and Head Constable Mahesh Pal for their handling of the case. He took the decision based on an initial report of the Special Investigation Team that was set up to look into the case. They will also undergo narco, polygraph tests as well, according to the CMO. Vineet Jaiswal, who was posted as SP in Shamli, has now been given the charge of SP Hathras, UP government's suspension order mentioned.

With a wall of police blocking entry to the victim's village, restrictions on media meeting the 19-year-old's family members are still in place.

The family of the victim has claimed that they are being harassed by the district administration, forced not to talk to the media or Opposition leaders and are being treated as suspects.

According to media reports, a boy who claimed to be the victim's cousin said that the police have fortified the family's home while cops are stationed not only on the streets near their home but also at their roof terrace and at every outlet of their house.

Reports also quoted him as saying that the family members' mobile phones have been forcefully taken away and all of them have been confined within a single room of their house.

The boy also accused the city's District Magistrate of kicking one of the family members on the chest and has warned the family not to speak to the media.

The boy said he had escaped somehow through the fields and was sent by the family to ask reporters to reach out to the family.

Similar reports had come out on Thursday as well after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi posted a purported video of the victim's father making similar claims.

The man, around 50 claimed that he was "pressured" into going to a police station, where family members were made to sign some documents.

Since Thursday, the media were not allowed to go inside the village or meet the family members. Police personnel have been deployed at the entrance of Bulgaddhi village, as SIT continues its probe.

Another report claimed that the family has not even been allowed to collect the ashes and bones of the victim from the pyre, for further rituals. The family had claimed that they had begged the police not to cremate the body in the dead of the night as Hindu rituals do not allow for cremation after sunset. But the police had locked them up and burnt the body without any participation from the family.

Meanwhile, the UP Police made a bizarre claim stating that the victim was never raped. "The report of the FSL has come. It says clearly that samples did not contain sperm. It makes clear that there was no rape or gang-rape," Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.

Legal experts, however, debunked the theory propounded by the Uttar Pradesh Police that absence of semen from the body of Hathras victim suggested that she was not raped, saying the presence of sperm cannot be an essential ingredient to prove the crime.

The Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with the definition of 'rape, says the "penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape" and "the mere absence of spermatozoa cannot cast a doubt on the correctness of the prosecution case". 

The ADG also claimed that the woman in her statement to police "did not mention rape but talked about 'marpeet' (beating) only".

But another officer had earlier said that the section relating to rape was added to the FIR after the woman told police that she had been sexually assaulted.

Reports, however, say that the post-mortem report also claims that the victim suffered injuries in her genitals, which indicated the sexual nature of the crime.

The girl, in one of her final statements before death, had also told the police on Tuesday that the four men had raped her on September 14 when she had gone to collect fodder for animals.

The Supreme Court has, in various successive judgments, also held that the victim's testimony will be treated with 'highest importance' and will be deemed enough for conviction if supporting evidence is present.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti urged Adityanath to allow politicians and media personnel to meet the victim's family members.

Without mincing any word, Uma Bharti said UP police's action will be tarnishing the image of not only the UP government but also the BJP government.

"Police hurriedly conducted her last rites and now the family has been locked down. I don't know of any rule that prohibits the family of a victim if SIT probe is going on. This will raise question over the SIT probe only," she tweeted.

"I am senior to you in the party and I am also like your elder sister. I urge you to not dismiss my suggestions," she added.