The father of a woman, who accused a BJP legislator and his brother of raping her last year, died in a hospital in Unnao district Monday, police said.
The man died a day a day after his 18-year-old daughter attempted suicide at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence in Lucknow on Sunday. He was under arrest for allegedly threatening people and was shifted from the district jail in a critical condition Sunday night. The man cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter.
“A magisterial inquiry will be conducted. If any lapse is found on the side of the police, action will be taken. The incident happened while the man was in judicial custody,” said deputy inspector general of police (law and order) Pravin Kumar.
His daughter has alleged that Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who represents Unnao’s Bangarmau constituency in the UP assembly, and his aides had raped her on July 4, 2017. She said she shifted to Delhi, fearing Sengar’s aides who were allegedly pressing her family to withdraw their complaint.
The woman’s father was arrested on April 5 this year in Makhi, a town in Unnao district, after a man called Tinku Singh lodged a complaint against him. According to a police document called first information report, the father abused certain people and threatened them with a country-made gun.
Father had injuries during arrest, alleged police harassment
The father denied the charges against him and alleged MLA Sengar’s brother, Atul Singh, and their supporters had assaulted him on April 3 in Makhi and wanted his family to withdraw their complaint of rape.
He also alleged the police had taken off Sengar’s name in the family’s complaint.He had injury marks at the time of his arrest and he was examined at the district hospital where he was given primary treatment before being sent to jail on April 6.
He reportedly became unconscious in the jail on Sunday evening and was admitted to the district hospital at 9.10pm. The doctor on duty was informed that the man had a severe stomach ache and he was vomiting.
Unnao’s superintendent of police Pushpanjali Devi said the station house officer of Makhi , a sub-inspector, and three beat constables have been suspended for “sheer negligence” in handling the father’s complaint of assault.
Devi said reports that the Makhi police omitted Atul Singh’s name in the father’s complaint of assault are being investigated. “Tough action will be taken against anyone who is found involved in the case,” she said.
MLA Sengar denied the allegations against him. “I’m open to any kind of investigation. Strict action should be taken against the real culprit,” Sengar was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Chief Minster Adityanath called the father’s death unfortunate. “Those at fault, whoever they might be, will not be spared,” Adityanath was quoted by ANI as saying. (With HT)
