Muzaffarnagar riots: Gangrape victim challenges SIT clean chit

A gangrape victim has challenged in a local court an SIT report which gave a clean chit to five accused in one of the gangrape cases that took place during the Muzaffarnagar communal riots.

The victim filed a petition against the SIT's clean chit in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate here yesterday. The court has fixed January 9 as the next date for the hearing.

In her petition, she challenged the final report saying she had recorded her statement that she was raped by the five accused in Phugana village during 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. SIT inspector Mala Yadav, who is probing Muzaffarnagar gangrape cases, had given a clean chit on October 11 to the five accused identified as Sunil, Ramesh, Ram Kumar, Devender and Jogender Kumar due to lack of evidence.

The victim admitted that she had given the first statement under pressure and that the accused had threatened her of dire consequences if she admitted to being raped. However, in her second statement before a woman magistrate on May 5, the victim had admitted that she was raped by the accused.

Meanwhile, the investigation of cases involving women has been transferred to a woman officer following a victim's complaint, said SSP H N Singh. "Investigation of cases pertaining to women has been transferred to Minaxi Sharma, Station House Officer, Women's Police Station, Muzaffarnagar," he said.

Seven gang rape cases, one in Lank village and six in Phugana village were registered during the Muzaffarnagar communal riots. However, the SIT closed one of the cases of Phugana after giving clean chit to the five accused.

24 accused in six cases were arrested. Only one Abhinav alias Badlu is absconding in one case of Phugana.