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BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the principal accused in the Unnao rape case, has now been nominated, amongst 10 others, in a FIR registered on Monday accused of a road accident orchestrated to kill the Unnao rape survivor, who was travelling with her lawyer and relatives. The deadly crash killed two of her aunts, while the rape victim and her lawyer are critically injured.
On Sunday, a truck collided with the vehicle while they were travelling in, and the police have arrested both, the driver and the truck owner.
In the FIR registered against Sengar, the uncle of the rape survivor stated that his family has received multiple threats from the BJP politician and his goons.
The Unnao rape survivor, an Indian teenager from Uttar Pradesh, lies on a hospital bed, fighting for her life, while the BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been booked under charges of criminal conspiracy and murder, alongside facing charges of gang rape.
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Congress protests outside BJP office in Lucknow as Unnao rape case victim remains on life support. @Rahulshrivstv and @abhishek6164
give us latest details. #ITVideoMore Videos: https://t.co/Nounxo6IKQ pic.twitter.com/Vv7yBzhWAo
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 30, 2019
The charges of rape emerged last year, when the then 17-year old rape survivor attempted to set herself on fire outside the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, stating that the police had refused to register a complaint against Sengar and the other accused.
Lawlessness in Modi’s India
In the FIR registered against Sengar, the uncle of the rape survivor stated that his family has received multiple threats from the BJP politician and his goons. The victim and her family have been repetitively coerced and threatened to withdraw her case, change her statements and come to an out-of-court settlement with the BJP MLA in the gang rape case.
The deadly crash killed two of her aunts, while the rape victim and her lawyer are critically injured.
They have been threatened with dire consequences and death threats for the victim if they fail to reach a compromise. The uncle also stated that the goons of the BJP politician reminded him that the Modi-led “government is with the MLA”. The 19-year old rape survivor lost two of her aunts in the collision, and this case has highlighted the heinous state of lawlessness in one of India’s largest states.
Reports emerging from India reveal that the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to consult the Chief Investigation Bureau in the accident of the Unnao rape survivor and her family, and requests have also been dispatched to New Delhi. The accusations levelled against BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar, including gang rape, criminal conspiracy and murder, have highlighted the absence of law and order in Narendra Modi’s India.
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Addressing the press from the hospital, the mother of the Unnao rape survivor stated that after registering their case, the family has had to face multiple threats and coercive tactics. She said that the road collision was “not an accident”, and the accused are eliminating all the witnesses one after the other.
Last year, the father of the teenage rape victim was killed in police custody, after being severely beaten, allegedly by the brother of the accused, BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The mother cried, “We are afraid for our lives.” The FIR registered by the victim’s family further noted that the truck driver had intentionally collided into the vehicle in which the family was travelling, and the truck is associated with MLA Sengar.
In another application to the Uttar Pradesh government, the family of the survivor has requested the authorities to transfer the accident case to the CBI, which is already investigating the gang rape case and the victim’s father’s death in police custody. Kuldeep Singh Sengar remains the principal accused of all the cases.
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Opposition Protests against Sengar
The heinous crimes committed by BJP politician Kuldeep Singh Sengar have angered activists, politicians, opposition leaders and civil society members across India. Congress leaders are staging protests across BJP offices, demanding justice for the Unnao rape survivor.
The 19-year old rape survivor lost two of her aunts in the collision, and this case has highlighted the heinous state of lawlessness in one of India’s largest states.
Opposition says “India Ashamed” in #Parliament #Unnao @MahuaMoitra @derekobrienmp @Dayanidhi_Maran #JayaBacchan pic.twitter.com/QLqVvZoT1E
— Poulomi Saha (@PoulomiMSaha) July 30, 2019
Speaking to India Today, Indian Parliament member Mahua Moitra said, “This is New India. Welcome to rape. Welcome to murder. Welcome to getting scot-free if you are with the BJP”.
At Parliament’s Gandhi statue, as Opposition parties protested on #Unnao, @MahuaMoitra tells me, “This is New India. Welcome to rape. Welcome to murder. Welcome to getting scot-free if you are with the #BJP” @indiatoday https://t.co/lOrCoqEhnp
— Poulomi Saha (@PoulomiMSaha) July 30, 2019
Priyanka Gandhi, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, has also expressed anger and disdain over the denial of justice, and BJP’s unwillingness to apprehend Sengar. Tweeting from her account, Priyanka said, “What is the BJP waiting for? Why has this man not been expelled from their party even when his name is in the latest FIR Unnao Rape Case?”
What is the BJP waiting for? Why has this man not been expelled from their party even when his name is in the latest FIR in the Unnao Rape Case?#BJPSackSengar pic.twitter.com/cTpQ0HbFNT
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 29, 2019
Gandhi noted, “Why do we give people like Kuldeep Sengar the strength and protection of political power and abandon their victims to battle for their lives alone?”
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“This FIR clearly states that the family was threatened and apprehensive. It even mentions the possibility of a planned accident.”
Why do we give people like Kuldeep Sengar the strength and protection of political power and abandon their victims to battle for their lives alone?
This FIR clearly states that the family was threatened and apprehensive. It even mentions the possibility of a planned accident.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 30, 2019
For God’s sake, Mr. Prime Minister, divest this criminal and his brother of the political power your party is giving them.
Its still not too late.#BJPSackSengar
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 30, 2019
Akhilesh Yadav, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, lashed out at the UP authorities and police, and accused the police of being in cahoots with the accused.
https://twitter.com/ashokeraj007/status/1155780757937197056
The Unnao rape survivor, in an open letter to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh written on 17th August 2017, narrated her ordeal. The Indian Express reports that on 4th June 2017 she was raped at the residence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She had arrived at Sengar’s residence seeking his help in finding a job.
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The police recorded her statement on 22nd June 2017, however, the rape survivor was not allowed to name the principal accused, Kuldeep Singh Sengar. On 5th April 2018, the father of the rape victim was arrested, and while in police custody, he was beaten to death by Sengar’s goons, and allegedly by his brother.
A few days before her father succumbed to his injuries and died, the Unnao rape survivor attempted to set herself on fire in front of the official residence of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath. Her attempt to immolate herself, coupled with her father’s death, led to widespread protests and outrage, and the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.