Hathras gang-rape: Delhi Commission for Women writes to CJI SA Bobde, Supreme Court judges to take cognizance of crime

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has written to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and other judges of the Supreme Court requesting them to take cognizance of the gruesome gang-rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district..DCW Chief Swati Maliwal has requested the Supreme Court to call for a High Court monitored investigation into the case to ensure "strictest and swiftest possible punishment to the accused.".The victim, a 19-year-old girl, was gang-raped in Hathras on September 14. She succumbed to her injuries at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital yesterday. When her mortal remains were taken to her native place, the UP Police and administration allegedly cremated her body forcefully without the family's consent or their presence, in the dead of the night.."Even in death, the UP government was not moved by the pleas and tears of the victim and gravest of grave violation of the human rights of the victim, her family was locked up in their home and her body was forcibly taken in the fields at 2AM in the morning and cremated by the police officials. No family member was allowed to cremate the body and in death, the family could not be with their daughter."Letter sent by DCW to Supreme Court judges.The incident was allegedly played down by the police and the local administration as a dispute between villages to cover it up, the letter points out. In this light, the DCW has asked for the immediate suspension and punitive action against the police and administrative officials who facilitated this "cover up". The letter states,"Every possible fundamental and human right of the victim was violated by the UP government and its police, in life and in death.".DCW goes on to state that the incident exposed the absolute apathy and disregard of the system towards women. Despite the victim in this case being left in the fields with severe injuries, the police failed to register an FIR for five days, the letter notes.."The Hathras gang-rape and murder has once again exposed the complete apathy and disregard our system shows towards its daughters and mothers."DCW letter says.Besides this, the UP government also failed to move the victim to a Delhi hospital until September 28, when she breathed her last, DCW states..Maliwal's letter details the brutalities committed by the four men, who cut off the victim's tongue to make sure that she would not be able to give a statement against them. The perpetrators also allegedly threatened the family to prevent them from making statements to the authorities..In light of these allegations against the accused as well as the police and the administration, the DCW has urged the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the matter..Read DCW's letter: