Woman gang-raped in Amethi

A woman was allegedly gangraped by some persons over a land dispute in Gauriganj area here, police said today.

Hariram, a resident of Dihwa village, was involved in a land dispute with some persons. His wife was yesterday beaten up by rival group members following a heated argument over the issue. A friend of Hiraram's wife, who came to her rescue, was forcibly taken inside a house and gangraped by them, police said. "The victim alleged that some persons assaulted and later gangraped her in a house yesterday," IG (Law and Order) Amrendra Sengar told reporters in Lucknow.

Sengar said that a case has been lodged against three persons in this regard, but no arrest has been made so far. "Both the parties were brought to the police station for questioning," Sengar said.

Meanwhile, Amethi District Magistrate Jagatraj Tripathi and SP Heeralal said that in initial investigation the incident was not confirmed, but legal action and inquiry would continue.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said in Delhi that he was saddened to learn about the rape in Amethi, and expressed hope that justice would be meted out quickly.

"I am extremely saddened to learn of an alleged rape in Amethi. The matter is under investigation. We are closely monitoring the situation and following up with the district administration to ensure that all the facts come to light and justice is meted out quickly," he said.

In Gauriganj area of Amethi, members of different groups staged demonstrations demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

Activists of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), led by its president Pramod Mishra, demonstrated before the Gauriganj police station while women members of self help groups took out a procession along the roads of Gauriganj raising slogans against the poor law and order in the state. Mishra told PTI that "the administration is playing a foul game and trying to save the real culprits".

He also alleged that the rape victim was not properly treated by the police. 

The women of self help groups led by Krishna Kumari Vishwakarma, Geeta Gupta and Meera submitted a memorandum to district administration addressed to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav demanding arrest and harsh punishment for the culprits of Gauriganj and Badaun rape cases.