This is an archive article published on October 2, 2020
Hathras gangrape: Explain hurry to cremate body, NCW to UP cops
The police had brought the body from Safdarjug Hospital in the National Capital to her village 200 km away, before burning it in the dead of the night—keeping the family away from the last rites.
Hathras gangrape: Policemen at the victim’s village, a day after her cremation. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)
The National Commission for Women Thursday asked the the Uttar Pradesh Police to explain its “urgency” in cremating the body of the Hathras gang rape victim.
The police had brought the body from Safdarjug Hospital in the National Capital to her village 200 km away, before burning it in the dead of the night.
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The victim’s family said the police did not allow them to perform the final rites at their home, besides keeping them away during the cremation.
The 19-year-old victim had been raped by four upper-caste men in a Hathras village on September 14. Her bloodied body was discovered by her mother in the fields where they both were working.
The NCW said the incident “underlines the grim state of women in the society”.
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In a statement, it termed the late night episode that unfolded in the victim’s village as “disturbing’’.
“It has been reported that the victim’s body was cremated at 2:30 am by the police without the presence of any family member. The victim’s family had reportedly appealed to the District Magistrate for taking her body home for performing the last rites, however the police went ahead with the cremation while most of her family members were away.”
The commission has now written to the state’s Director General of Police, seeking an explanation on “the urgency to cremate the body of the victim”. The body has also asked the administration to send a reply on the same at the earliest.
Earlier, the NCW had taken suo motu cognisance of the gang rape and received an “action taken report” from the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Also on Thursday, the NCW took suo motu cognisance of a another case in Chattisgarh where a woman has accused her employer of raping and impregnating her when she was suffering from a mental illness last year.
The body has written to the Chhattisgarh Director General of Police seeking a thorough investigation in the case and strict action against the culprit. A detailed action taken report has also been sought from the administration.
Hathras gangrape: Policemen at the victim’s village, a day after her cremation. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav) 
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