The Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a priest, who is the main accused in the alleged gangrape and murder of an Anganwadi worker in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh. According to District Magistrate Kumar Prashant, the 'mahant' (priest), identified as Satya Narayan, was hiding in the house of one of his followers in a village that comes under Ughaiti police station. He was nabbed from the house on Thursday at midnight. Two of Narayan's disciples were arrested on Wednesday, December 6. The temple priest had a bounty of rupees 50,000 on his head.
Also Read: Eight Years On, Nirbhaya’s Mother Asha Devi Says She Will Seek Justice For “All Rape Victims”
A 50-year-old woman who went to visit a temple in her village on Sunday night, was allegedly gangraped by the priest and his two aids. Police further revealed that the post-mortem examination confirmed that the woman sustained several injuries including broken ribs, fractured legs and her lungs were attacked with a heavy object. Her private parts were “severely brutalised”, sources said. An autopsy report also revealed that an iron rod was inserted into her private parts.
A case was registered and all three accused were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 376-d (gangrape) and 302 (murder).
Accused Priest arrested
As per reports, the accused Satya Narayan and his two aides dropped the woman at home and told the family that she had fallen in a dry well on the worship premises. The deceased woman's husband said, “My wife was alive by then. But before we could understand anything or ask any question, they left in the car. After a few minutes, my wife succumbed to the injuries. She had multiple injuries, including those on private parts.” The woman was bleeding and reportedly died later that night.
"They brought her on their own in a vehicle. She was dead when they left her here. The occultist and others dropped her at the door and left quickly," the woman's son said. Read more about it here
Also Read: Stop Blaming Women For Getting Raped! NCW Member say Girls Shouldn't Step Out Late
Meanwhile, National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi on Thursday said that the gangrape of the middle-aged woman could have been avoided if she had not stepped out alone in the evening. The video of her statement went viral on social media earning her backlash for victim-blaming.
Actors Taapsee Pannu, Pooja Bhatt and Urmila Matondkar too criticised Devi's statement on the Badaun gangrape and murder case. After being tagged by Bhatt in her tweet NCW chief Rekha Sharma tweeted that she didn't stand by Devi's statement, adding that women have the right to move on their own free will. It’s society and the state’s duty to make places safe for women.
Picture Credits: VK Singh and Company
Read More Stories By Ria Das
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
