Unnao: The father of the Unnao rape victim who died Friday wants “Hyderabad-like” justice for his 23-year-old daughter. The men who raped and killed her, he said, should die as well.
“The only thing that will give us peace is if the rapists are hanged or if they are killed in an encounter like the one that took place in Hyderabad,” he added, referring to the alleged encounter deaths of four rape-murder suspects in Telangana.
“Within one week of the Hyderabad case being filed, the rapists were killed. The police there have set an example,” he said. “Only justice like that will give our daughter’s soul some peace.”
Four men accused of raping and murdering a young veterinarian, whose body was then set on fire, were killed by police Friday morning in an encounter allegedly triggered by an escape bid.
The police personnel involved in the operation have since been widely feted for bringing “swift justice” to the victim’s family, even though many have criticised the encounter as an extrajudicial killing.
#WATCH Hyderabad: People celebrate and cheer for police at the encounter site where the four accused were killed in an encounter earlier today. #Telangana pic.twitter.com/WZjPi0Y3nw
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2019
The Unnao woman was allegedly raped in March by cousins Shivam and Shubham Trivedi. She was set on fire Thursday while on her way to Rae Bareli for a court hearing in the case.
The five men arrested for allegedly setting her afire include the Trivedi cousins, one of whom, Shivam, was released on bail just days before on 30 November.
The woman, who sustained 90 per cent burns, died Friday. Her last words reportedly included a desire to live and a call for the suspects to be hanged.
It has been reported that the victim’s family had expressed concerns about her safety but weren’t provided security by Uttar Pradesh Police.
Also read: 86 rapes in 11 months in UP’s Unnao, 185 cases of sexual harassment
‘No one came earlier’
The family of the woman was visited by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Unnao BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj Saturday afternoon. The duo, who visited the family hours apart, met the woman’s father and sister-in-law.
“They gave us an assurance that we will get justice,” the sister-in-law told ThePrint, adding, “No politician came to meet us before today. Not even the local politicians.”
Sakshi Maharaj has promised the family Rs 25 lakh in compensation.
On being asked if the family thinks an encounter would be a legitimate way of delivering justice, the victim’s father said he didn’t trust the system anymore.
“We go to the police empty-handed and we come back empty-handed. There is no hope.”
Also read: ‘Hollow law & order system’ — Priyanka Gandhi slams UP govt for Unnao rape victim’s death