Bulandshahr gangrape: Shame on Azam Khan, says BJP

Lucknow: Senior SP leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan has kicked up a controversy by suggesting that the Bulandshahr highway gangrape could be an outcome of a political conspiracy against the ruling party, drawing condemnation from rival parties.

Senior SP leader Azam Khan

Khan termed the gangrape an attempt to "malign" the Samajwadi Party (SP) government by those who want to "come to power" in poll-bound UP. Assembly elections in UP are due next year. "It must be investigated whether people, with the opposite ideology or those who want to come to power, are behind this incident in order to malign the government," he said in Rampur on Monday. "When innocent people can be murdered for political gains, for votes Gujarat and Muzaffarnagar can happen, when Shamli and Kairana can happen...It is not just a matter of two rapes. It is important to know the truth behind it," Khan was heard as saying in a video that has gone viral on social media.

Politics of shame
Reacting sharply to Khan's statement, UP's BJP chief K P Maurya said, "He is doing politics on gangrape now. It's a matter of shame."

In an apparent damage control, Khan yesterday said his remarks were misconstrued. He said, "They (the perpetrators) should be punished every second. If the government is not sensitive to these matters then it does not have any right to speak about people. This is a very painful incident; it's even worse than death. We understand their pain. We cannot change the truth. If we get into more details, number of people may be involved. This is an insult to government. Which government will want such an incident?"

Want justice in 3 months, or we will commit suicide: Rape survivor's family

The family of Bulandshahr gangrape survivors threatened to commit suicide if the culprits were not punished in 3 months.

"We were looted, beaten up and all know what they did to my daughter. I want my wife and daughter to punish them. If they are not punished within 3 months, all three of us will commit suicide," said the minor's father, a cab driver.

"There were seven-eight men. They kept beating us even when we begged for water or if we made any movement," he added. He also alleged they did not get any help on dialling the police control room.

IG Meerut to probe
IG Meerut Sujeet Pandey was yesterday named to head the probe into the Bulandshahr gangrape incident while Principal Secretary (Home) and DGP of Uttar Pradesh were directed to ensure speedy investigation.

Transfer case to CBI: BJP
Accusing the SP government in UP of "protecting and appeasing" criminals ahead of the Assembly polls, the BJP yesterday asked CM Akhilesh Yadav to transfer the Bulandshahr rape case to the CBI if he has any "shame" left. The party also alleged that the SP first "appeased" Muslims to get votes and was now looking at criminals through the prism of castes and religions and "appeasing" them.

One accused was thrown out of home
The probe in Bulandshahr gangrape case has revealed that one of the three main accused in the horrific highway crime was a violent man who was thrown out of his home and disinherited. Bablu (22), who was sent to 14-day judicial custody along with two others, hailed from Aterna village, Faridabad, said Bhupendra Singh, DCP, Ballabgarh. Acknowledging his violent nature since chidhood, father Roopchand said the family was shocked by the news and wanted him punished.

3 arrests made so far