In a shocking abuse of power, police in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, are accused of forcing a 16-year-old rape survivor to withdraw her complaint against her attacker after accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the accused.
On August 22, the teenager was allegedly abducted and raped by Ankit Verma, a 25-year-old married man. According to her complaint, Ankit later took her to a hotel in Ghaziabad and raped her again. The girl also reported that Ankit’s brother assaulted her, further compounding her trauma.
After suffering repeated sexual assaults, the girl’s condition worsened, and on August 25, Ankit left her outside her home and threatened her to remain silent. Despite her uncle’s efforts to seek justice by filing a complaint and demanding Ankit's arrest, the police dragged their feet and only detained Ankit briefly. Instead of pursuing justice, the police allegedly coerced the girl into dropping her charges after accepting a bribe from the accused.
Superintendent of Police Dinesh Singh has since acknowledged the gross mishandling of the case and has removed the police station in-charge, Arun Pratap Singh, and suspended another officer, Manoj Kumar. However, these actions fall short of addressing the deep-rooted corruption and failure to protect a vulnerable minor in dire need of justice.
The victim's uncle, who has been caring for the girl and her brother since their parents' tragic deaths, expressed his outrage and dismay at the betrayal by those meant to enforce the law and protect citizens. This case is not just a story of one girl's horrific experience but a glaring example of systemic corruption and negligence that denies justice to survivors of sexual violence.
The public must demand accountability, not only for the perpetrators of this crime but also for the authorities who allowed such a miscarriage of justice to occur. This incident highlights the urgent need for police reform and the protection of victims.
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