Hathras gang rape: UP Police trying to frame us because we are poor, say brothers of victim

According to the Uttar Pradesh police investigation, the 19-year-old woman was in constant touch with the main accused of the case. 

Sandeep Singh of the same village is the main accused in this case of alleged gangrape and fatal assault on the Dalit woman in September. As per UP Police, call records show that 62 calls outgoing and 42 incoming calls totalling 104 -- were made between the two phone numbers. According to the police, the call records show that the victim and the main accused were in touch.

The 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gang raped and brutalised in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on September 14. She died a fortnight later.

The victim was cremated near her home on September 30. But her family alleged that they were forced by the local police to conduct her last rites in the dead of the night.

The victim’s brother said,“it is a conspiracy against us”. “The killers are cunning. They can do anything to save themselves.” He said the SIM had first been bought for his father 10 years ago. “But he would keep losing his phone. So, I used my ID to get the SIM registered in my name. The phone is always kept at home. Everyone has that one number, even the pradhan. It’s the only one we have.” He said it was mostly his father who used the phone. But he denied ever contacting the main accused, Sandeep, whose family lives across the road from the victim’s house.

The victim’s brother said,“UP Police is trying to frame us because we are poor. There is no end to our harassment … If they have records, they should have evidence. I would like to hear call recordings.” 

“Police are engaging in character assassination, projecting things incorrectly. My sister was under our supervision at all times. I have no doubt about her,” the victim’s eldest brother said.

The younger brother added, “She was unlettered. She didn’t know how to dial a number on the phone. She could only receive calls.”