Plea In Allahabad HC Seeks CBI Probe Into Alleged Murder And Gang Rape Of A Dalit Woman From Banda District

On 31^st October, a severed head of a flour mill worker was found outside the mill. At some distance, her naked body and severed hand were discovered along with blood-stained clothes. The mill staff had said that her head was severed due to being stuck in the machinery. However, as per news reports, her daughter claimed that she could hear the screams of her mother from the closed gate of the mill. The police have claimed it to be an accident.

The petition has been filed by the husband of the deceased woman alleging that the investigation by the police has been tainted as they are being controlled by the accused who belong to the upper caste community.

In the petition, it has been stated that the first information report was lodged after a delay of 25 hours and the area where the body was discovered was sealed after 3 days which led to the destruction of valuable evidence. It has also been stated that only one accused has been arrested, whereas the other two named in the FIR have not been arrested to date. It has been alleged that despite allegations of gang rape made in the FIR, the accused have not been charged under Sections 376 of IPC.

In the petition, it has been stated that the alleged murder and gang rape of the deceased worker is being termed as an “accident” by the police since they are acting as agents of the accused. The primary accused and mill owner has been granted bail by the Additional Session Judge, Special Court (SC/ST Act).

“The inquiry has been a complete eye wash and is premeditated and biased and the police authorities have left no stone unturned to term the brutal and heinous crime of the accused, as a mere accident,” the plea states.

The petitioner has sought a CBI probe while claiming that due procedure established in law has not been followed by the local police at any stage. From not sealing the place of incident, to not recording statements, various procedural lapses have been highlighted in the petition.

The police have repeatedly said that the death of the lady was due to her body getting stuck in the belt of the atta chakki (flour mill machinery). However, in the petition, it has been pleaded that this version of the police is inconsistent with the wounds found on the body of the deceased as well as the post-mortem report.

The petitioner has also prayed for police protection to be provided to him and his daughter since the accused and his friends have been harassing the daughter and have made lewd comments at her. Fearing for life, the petitioner, husband of the deceased woman has approached the High Court for a fair and proper inquiry into the murder and gang rape of his wife.