Was told to stay mum: Mother of Delhi rape-murder victim

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 4

The alleged rape and murder of a minor Dalit in Delhi’s Old Nangal snowballed into a political issue on Wednesday with the Opposition accusing the Centre of lax policing and the government and BJP hitting back at the Congress for politicising rape, even as the Delhi Government ordered a magisterial probe.

After Rahul Gandhi met the minor’s family today pledging support in their fight for justice, the Centre asked why he was always silent on rapes in Congress-ruled states.

“These leaders (Rahul Gandhi) were silent when children were assaulted in Congress-ruled states. Do they see crimes against minors only in non-Congress-ruled states, and not in Punjab and Rajasthan?” I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said.

The girl’s parents said their daughter had gone to the nearby crematorium temple to fetch cold water on Sunday, but never returned. The temple priest called for the family and declared that the child had died of electrocution from the cooler.

“I was told to remain silent, go home and not cry or make a noise. The priest said the police would come and my daughter’s organs would be taken away. They rushed the cremation. I want justice and death for the culprits,” the minor’s mother said.

On her complaint, the police added rape charges to the FIR. All the four accused have been arrested with investigation a challenge as the body has been cremated.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and TMCleaders also visited the family while the VHP sought death penalty for the guilty and probe in 15 days. Kejriwal ordered a magisterial probe and Rs 10 lakh compensation for the family.