BJP MLA''s brother arrested; SIT to probe Unnao rape case

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, April 10

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to holistically investigate the several cases emerging out of the 18-year-old rape survivor accusing Bangarmau (Unnao) BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar of rape and her father dying in judicial custody on Monday.

Addressing a press conference ADG Law and Order Anand Kumar said the ADG (Lucknow) Zone Rajeev Krishna would head the SIT, which would include Lucknow SP Crime branch and his team.

The first high profile arrest in the case took place on Tuesday when Bangarmau MLA’s brother Atul Singh Senger was arrested.

However, demanding the immediate arrest of the BJP MLA in the case the rape survivor and her family have refused to accept any compensation.

They have threatened to sit on an indefinite dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi till the MLA is arrested.

ADG (L&O) disclosed that the cause of death of the rape survivor’s father inside the Unnao district jail according to the post mortem report is colostomy and septicaemia.

According to sources the man had been badly thrashed by the culprits and had 18 lacerations on his body reportedly caused by lashing from leather belts.

Refusing to admit any negligence on the part of the police in the man’s death ADG Kumar said that he had come to the police station on April 5 in an injured state and was sent by the police in an ambulance to the district hospital from where he was shifted to the Unnao jail.

Disagreeing with the police version of developments the rape survivor said that when the family had approached the court for the arrest of the MLA her father was beaten up and sent to Unnao district jail on April 5 under a false Arms Act case.

She said that after failing to get justice when she attempted to set herself ablaze in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence on Sunday, (April 8) her father was tortured inside the jail reportedly by the BJP MLA, his younger brother Atul Singh Sengar, the Nawabganj Block Pramukh Arun Singh and others causing his death the next morning.

Confirming the arrest of the MLA’s brother ADG (L & O) said that the Lucknow Crime Branch team, which has been investigating the case since on Monday prima facie found the presence of the MLA’s brother at the spot.

The body of the father was cremated on Tuesday morning in Shuklaganj amidst tight security as tension is building up in the rural areas of the district as well as the neighbouring districts.

Spelling out the SIT’s sphere of investigation ADG Kumar said that in the original FIR filed after the rape in June 2017 had not named the MLA and his associates.

It was only the second FIR filed on August 22, 2017 when Senger’s name along with his associates was added.

“The SIT will factor in all the complaints and investigate if there was any pressure on the survivor at the time of filing of the first complain or when she recorded her statement under Cr PC Section 161 and 164 as she had not named the names of persons, which were added in the second FIR”, pointed out ADG (L&O).

He also maintained that when the Department of Home demanded a report on the incident from the Unnao Police, they had pointed out these discrepancies, which are factual.

On Monday, in a damage control mode the UP government had suspended six police personnel including SHO Makhi police station Ashok Singh Bhadouria, Sub Inspector Kamta Singh, Head Constable Ramraj Shukla, constables Laxman Shukla, Ashok and Mohit.

Police have already arrested four persons including the Block Pramukh Arun Singh on Monday for beating up the rape survivor’s father. The fifth arrest of the MLA’s younger brother was made on Tuesday while the main accused , Kuldeep Singh Senger, is still scot free.

Kuldeep Singh (Sengar) isn't being arrested. I don't know if his brother is arrested. I demand that they be hanged till death. They've made my life miserable. I want justice. They killed my father: Woman who has leveled rape allegations against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar #Unnao pic.twitter.com/fHJBcjrj52

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 10, 2018