Allahabad HC orders CBI probe into ‘abduction’ of UP Dalit woman in 2021
A petition was also filed in the court the police had deliberately omitted the name of Sanjay Singh as an accused in the FIR.
2 min read
Allahabad High Court said “It is against the Constitutional mandate of Article 25 of the Constitution of India, which does not provide for religious conversion, it only provides freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. (File Photo)The Allahabad High Court has ordered a CBI inquiry into the alleged abduction of a 25-year-old married Dalit woman from her parents’ residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district in 2021.
Three persons from an upper caste were arrested in this connection. The HC order came in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by Kalawati, mother of the victim Ritu Devi. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the state authorities, noting they failed to locate the victim despite multiple extensions sought by them.
The court said, “The CBI is directed to investigate the matter and submit a report by the next date of listing. Let the matter be listed before the appropriate court on 21.08.2024.”
Ritu was living with her husband Sumit Kumar after their marriage in 2019. She visited her parents’ home in Dalabarakhera village a few days before her alleged abduction. According to her brother Vikas, a neighbour named Happy Singh took his sister along on February 23, 2021. “A few days, later, we spotted Happy Singh and when we asked him about Ritu’s whereabouts, he abused and threatened us. Later, we came to know Happy’s cousin Rahi Singh and their uncle Sanjay Singh were involved. The accused are from the Thakur community and are influential,” said Vikas.
Efforts to lodge an FIR against the suspects were also met with obstacles, the family alleged.
Kalawati sought help from the Fatehpur SP and the state SC/ST Commission, but no FIR was filed. After a complaint was lodged on state government’s portal, a missing report was filed on March 15, 2021. Kalawati then filed a habeas corpus plea in the HC in 2021. Her lawyer, Shivakant Singh said “while the police arrested Sanjay Singh, Happy Singh, and Rahi Singh, the victim remained untraceable. Sanjay Singh obtained bail and was released.”
A petition was also filed in the court the police had deliberately omitted the name of Sanjay Singh as an accused in the FIR.
You May Like
