Purshottam Naresh Dwivedi, BSP legislator from Naraini constituency of Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, could have been in trouble if the police had not mishandled the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl.
But the girl’s father said the police refused to accept his complaint and his daughter was sent to jail on December 15 — three days after she was abused — on trumped-up charges of stealing from the MLA’s house.
The girl’s father, a Bahujan Samaj Party worker, said he had gone to Dwivedi, his party MLA, after the police refused to help him in rescuing his daughter from a boy who was holding her captive.
He said Dwivedi’s men retrieved his daughter and the MLA told him she should stay at his place for safety. But on December 13, his daughter called him, saying the MLA and his men had raped her. She managed to escape from the MLA’s house.
The same night, the MLA’s son filed a complaint with the police against the girl — who is from a backward community — for theft. Police arrested her two days later.
{{/usCountry}}The same night, the MLA’s son filed a complaint with the police against the girl — who is from a backward community — for theft. Police arrested her two days later.
{{/usCountry}}The girl’s father said he and his daughter were being pressured not to press charges against the MLA and his men.
Asked about these developments, which have triggered outrage in the district, Banda superintendent of police Anil Das told HT: “The matter is being investigated.”
Incidentally, the district police chief came under fire from UP Congress Committee president Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Friday. Demanding his suspension for not lodging an FIR against the BSP MLA, she said Das had instead interrogated the girl in jail. She said a medical board should be formed to examine the girl.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has sought a report from the state on the alleged gang-rape.