A shocking case of sexual violence and caste-based abuse has emerged from Uttar Pradesh, where a village head has been accused of confining and raping a Dalit woman sanitation worker. The incident allegedly took place on May 18 when the woman visited his house for an official purpose, police officials said on Wednesday.
Called on the Pretext of Signing Papers
According to Additional Superintendent of Police Devendra Kumar, the 40-year-old survivor had been appointed as a sanitation worker on compassionate grounds following the death of her husband. On the day of the incident, the village head summoned her to his residence under the guise of signing her salary slip. Trusting the official nature of the call, she went to his house without any suspicion.
What happened next was a brutal betrayal of trust and authority. The woman alleged in her formal complaint that as soon as she entered the house, the accused locked the door from inside. He then tied her hands and raped her. The assault was not just physical. After the attack, the accused hurled casteist abuses at her and issued a chilling warning. He threatened her with serious consequences if she dared to disclose the incident to anyone.
Police File Case Under Stringent Laws
Acting on the survivor’s complaint, police registered a case on Tuesday night. The FIR has been lodged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 64(1) for rape, Section 352 for intentional insult, and Section 351(3) for causing hurt. Given the casteist slurs and the victim’s Dalit identity, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked against the accused.
“The victim has been sent for medical examination. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway,” Additional SP Devendra Kumar told reporters. Police officials have assured that all evidence is being collected and statements are being recorded to build a strong case against the village head.
