UP Govt orders fresh probe into rape by SDM father

The Uttar Pradesh Government has ordered a fresh inquiry into the sensational case of a 25-year-old Dalit woman who has accused her SDM father of raping her and unleashing a reign of terror against her husband8217;s family to avenge her escape.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has ordered a fresh inquiry into the sensational case of a 25-year-old Dalit woman who has accused her SDM sub-divisional magistrate father of raping her and unleashing a reign of terror against her husband8217;s family to avenge her escape.

Pratima, a science graduate, had approached the National Commission for Woman NCW nearly a month ago. Although the authorities in Lucknow are yet to respond to NCW letters, Pratima was called by the Director General of Police Bua Singh and Chief Secretary Navin Chandra Bajpai to Lucknow recently. 8220;They gave me a patient hearing and have promised a fair inquiry into the false cases lodged against my husband8217;s family and also my personal exploitation by my father,8221; she told The Indian Express.

An officer of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police has been given the charge of the inquiry.

Pratima has alleged that her father Birendra Kumar, SDM of Derapur in Banda district of Kanpur, had repeatedly raped her for one year and the police authorities did not pay heed to her several complaints. Buckling under SDM8217;s influence, inquiry officers would inform her father about it and eventually she would be made to deny having made such a complaint. Finally, she had escaped and married a distant relative8217;s son.

Pratima8217;s petition with the NCW said her 8220;powerful father used his influence to allegedly kill her brother-in-law and got several false cases lodged against her in-laws.8221; In between, she was allegedly abducted and raped by her father again and only a habeas corpus petition filed by her husband set her free.

Pratima, who is seven-month pregnant, has been offered a job by the DGP. 8220;They arranged a job for me for Rs 15,000 per month in a sugar mill and assured full security to the family.8221;Fearing attacks, Pratima and her husband have taken refuge in Delhi. However, maintaining her scepticism, Pratima said: 8220;I want the false legal cases against my husband8217;s family withdrawn to feel secure.8221;

The NCW has decided to send a special team to Lucknow to conduct an independent probe.