Hathras Rape Case: Allahabad HC to Hear PIL of Victim's Family Against Illegal Confinement

8-October-2020

A Valmiki community organisation has moved the Allahabad High Court claiming that the Hathras administration is keeping the family members of the alleged gang-rape victim confined to their house and not allowing them to move freely and meet people. The petitioner organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Valmiki Mahapanchayat, claimed in its petition that it has approached the court on behalf of the victim's family members. The petition also names the victim's father, mother and her brothers as plaintiff. The lawsuit alleged that the victim's family members were illegally confined in their house by the district administration and were not allowed to meet anyone. The petition also specifically alleged the violation of the Dalit family's Fundamental Rights of freedom of movement and the freedom of speech and expression by the Hathras district administration. Akhil Bharatiya Valmiki Mahapanchayat national general secretary Surender Kumar averred that he was approached by the family members of the victim over the telephone and he had filed the petition on behalf of them.

The Hathras case has assumed political significance with the Congress demanding a judicial probe into the allegations of rape and the murder of the 19-year-old Dalit woman. The Congress on Wednesday demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or high court into the incident and said the BJP government should not try to fool the people by offering a probe by the CBI which is "under its control". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh should stop blaming everyone in the world but itself for the incident. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also released a video of his meeting with the family of the woman in their village home. The over five-minute video shows Gandhi extending his support to the family and assuring them that no one can suppress their voice. He also told them that they should not leave the village, saying no one can exert pressure on them to leave and he will stand by them if anyone does. "Watch the Hathras victim's family facing exploitation and oppression at the hands of the UP government. The truth of the injustice done to them should be seen by every Indian," Gandhi said along with the video put out on Twitter.