9 Year Old Dalit Girl Gang Raped And Forcibly Cemented: Only Legs And Ashes Remain

BACKGROUND OF THE STORY

• On Sunday evening, the girl was told to fetch some cold water from the water cooler at the crematorium, which is a 5-minute walk from her house, before going to play at the Peer Baba dargah.
• The father dropped the girl at the crematorium and went to buy vegetables, thinking to pick up her on his way back.
• About half an hour later, Radhe Shyam, the priest called the mother and told her to arrive fast.
• When she reached the crematorium, she found the dead body of the girl, with burn marks on her body and blood coming out of her nose.
• As recounted by her, the priest told that her daughter got electrocuted while filing water. He further asked her to cremate the body or else the police would conduct a post mortem and doctors would steal the organs.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CASE

• The mother recalled that the baba and his accomplices started getting logs soon after, and the cremation began.
• As the pyre was burning, she called her husband and her wails attracted about 200 villagers to the spot.
• The villagers then extinguished the fire and only the child’s legs were recovered from the pyre.
• After the police was informed about the matter, Ignit Pratap Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West), talked with the family members and villagers.
• He assured that the remains of the child would be handed over to the family members, so that the last rites can be performed.

POLICE INVESTIGATION

• A senior police officer investigated the case, on the condition of anonymity.
• He informed that, the mother of the victim hadn’t earlier mentioned of rape charges, so the case was registered only of culpable homicide, wrongful confinement and destruction of evidence.
• After Monday’s protest and the family’s statement to the National Commission for SC/ST, rape charges were included.

ARREST AND CHARGES

• On Monday, four suspects were arrested. They are Radhe Shyam, a priest, Laxmi Narayan and Kuldeep, people working with the priest and Salim, a resident living in that area.
• The girl’s mother identified them a day after she died.
• All of the accused were charged under Sections 376, 302, 506 and 204 of the IPC.
• Apart from the above mentioned sections, relevant sections from Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and ST/SC Act were also registered.

RELATED PROVISIONS

• Section 376 of IPC defines the punishment for rape. It states that whoever commits rape, must be punished with imprisonment or fine or with both.
• Section 302 of IPC defines the punishment for murder. It states that whoever commits murder must be punished with imprisonment for life, fine or death.
• Section 506 of IPC defines the punishment for criminal intimidation. It states that whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation must be punished with imprisonment for two years, fine or both.
• Section 204 of IPC defines the destruction of documents and electronic records. It states that whoever destroys any document or electronic records for the purpose of preventing the same being produced in the court, would be punished with imprisonment, fine or both.

COMMENTS MADE

• The family members and villages claimed that the police kept questioning them instead of capturing the accused. They were harassed and said to remove the rape charges.
• DCP Singh assured that strict action would be taken against those police officers who were involved in harassing and intimidating the family members.
• The mother alleged that only death penalty through a fast track court can bring justice to her daughter.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE PUNISHMENT IN THIS CASE?