Irfan Engineer
580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
Abstract
Hathras and Aftermath-A Frankenstein haunting UP Irfan Engineer and Neha Dabhade Hathras gang rape and the response to the crime by the state of Uttar Pradesh and various sections of the society is an interesting reflection on the times we are living in, also reflecting our moral goals and collective ideals. It also exposes out the chinks in our democracy and democratic institutions. Hathras gang rape was not only about the ghastly violation of a woman's body which resulted in her death which in itself should be condemned in no uncertain terms, but also state's approach to this incident has revealed existing faultlines in the society and polity based on caste, gender and religion. The response of the state is located in the overall ecosystem created by the ideological tilt and policies pursued by the state over a period of time. In this article, the authors would like to map this very response and the ecosystem has contributed to perpetuate these violations. Response of the state to Hathras: To begin with, the State officials instead of believing the statement of the 19 year old Dalit victim who died shortly after giving the statement identifying the four accused and recounting the horrors of the gang rape went in a mode of denial. Based on the forensic examination report which found no evidence of rape, the administration and the local BJP leaders claimed that no rape had taken place in this case. There have been glaring and unpardonable lapses in the investigation, which is evident from the fact that the forensic examination of the victim was conducted only on 22 nd September, 8 days after the rape took place and the police sent vaginal swabs from the victim 11 days after the occurrence of rape. Semen can be found in the vaginal swabs only in the first 72 hours or in four days after the rape. What can possibly explain this procedural delay? After the obvious lapses in investigation, what has come under wide criticism from all quarters is the way the body of the victim was cremated without the consent of the family. It is important to note here that the victim came from a poor Dalit family. The family was outraged and in grief after the death of their daughter. The victim was allegedly dragged with her dupatta from the field she had gone to cut grass with her family. She was dragged by the alleged four accused and assaulted till her spine broke and tongue was cut. The family was not handed over her body for a
Key takeaways
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AI
- The Hathras case reveals systemic failures in UP's response to sexual violence against marginalized groups.
- State officials' denial of the victim's testimony reflects deep-seated caste and gender biases in law enforcement.
- Forensic delays significantly compromised the investigation, undermining the pursuit of justice in this case.
- The cremation of the victim without family consent highlights the state's disregard for due process and human dignity.
- The article critiques the communal agenda in UP, linking it to a broader context of lawlessness and oppression.