On Thursday, the Allahabad High Court has dismissed a Habeas Corpus petition filed on behalf of the Hathras victim’s family who had alleged illegal detention by the UP Government.
The bench comprising of Justices Pritinker Diwaker and Prakash Padia noted that the State government had already been directed to file affidavits clarifying its stand in the entire case by the Supreme Court. They further added that it would not be proper for the High Court to “entertain the present petition on merits, especially when security has been provided to petitioners 1 to 6 and other family members of the deceased victim-girl”. However, the court said that the petitioners have the liberty to file an appropriate petition before the Supreme Court.
The habeas corpus petition filed by an organization named Akhil Bharatiya Valmiki Mahapanchayat’s on behalf of the family alleged that the family was locked up in their house by the district administration on September 29 (the day she woman died) and September 30. They also said that they were not being allowed to meet and talk to other people freely.
On the other hand, the accused in the Hathras gang rape and murder case have written to the district police chief from jail claiming innocence in the incident and sought “justice”.
Earlier, Sandeep Singh, the prime accused in the case made some loathsome allegations wherein he claimed that the victim’s own family had killed her because they disapproved of her relationship with Singh. Nonetheless, these were rebuffed by the victim’s brother who stated “They are trying to pressure a Dalit family and leveling allegations against a family who lost their daughter. These are afterthoughts aimed at twisting the case and will not sustain.” “How can one think of killing his own sister? These are tactics being adopted to mislead the probe agencies,” he added.
