Yet another BSP minister in Uttar Pradesh is caught in the vortex of controversy after a minor rape victim has alleged that she was pressurised by the minister’s nephew to compromise with the accused.
The girl was kept in illegal confinement at the police station, reportedly at the behest of the minister.
According to reports appearing in the local media, the incident took place in Handia in Allahabad district on January 19.
A minor girl belonging to the Ramaipur village under Handia police circle was allegedly raped by one Alok Yadav and another person.
The girl’s family lodged a FIR against the accused and the police promptly arrested them.
Instead of sending the accused to jail, the police insisted that they were minor and sent them to the remand home.
The nephew of the minister in question intervened in the matter and the girl was summoned to the police station and detained at the Mahila police station for four days.
The girl’s brother told reporters in Allahabad on Friday that he was summoned by the minister’s nephew to the minister’s home on January 23 and was asked to sign some blank papers. He was also asked to withdraw his complaint against the persons accused of raping his sister.
“When I refused to take back the complaint I was threatened and told in clear term that I would have to pay with my life. Mujhe jaan se marne ki dhamki di gayi,” he said.
The rape victim, surprisingly, was also found at the minister’s residence when her brother was summoned.
The local officials said that the rape victim had been detained since her statement was to be recorded and other formalities had to be completed.
This is the second incident in the past one month when BSP leaders have been accused of shielding persons accused of rape.
BSP MLA Shiv Prasad Yadav was accused of shielding a principal of his own college who had allegedly raped a young married woman in Etawah district. The case has now been registered against the MLA on the orders of the court.
Last month, BSP MLA Purshottam Naresh Dwiwedi was arrested and sent to jail for allegedly raping a minor dalit girl in Banda district.