US Senators to Narendra Modi: Combat gender-based violence

Sharing India's ‘shock and horror’ over the brutal rape and murder of two girls in Uttar Pradesh, ten influential US Senators have asked prime minister Narendra Modi (in pic) to take immediate action to combat gender-based violence and improve the safety of women in the country. ‘In light of the recent brutal rape and murder of two teenage girls in northern India, we write today to urge you to take immediate action to combat gender-based violence and improve the safety and security of women in your country,’ the Senators said in a letter to Modi.

Led by Senator Barbara Boxer from California, all the 10 Senators are from the ruling Democratic Party. Others Senators include Dick Durbin, Ed Markey, Jeanne Shaheen, Debbie Stabenow, Patty Murray, Tammy Baldwin, Kirsten Gillibrand, Mary Landrieu and Chris Coons.

‘As you know, two weeks ago, two young girls were found dead hanging from a tree after they had gone missing from their home in a remote village in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh. An autopsy confirmed that both girls had been repeatedly raped and strangled. We share your country's shock and horror over this terrible tragedy,’ the Senators wrote in the letter dated June 13.

Expressing concern over allegations of both complicity and negligence by the local police, the Senators said there are indications that police officers may have ignored initial reports from the family that the two girls were missing and may have attempted to cover up the crime.