Union Minister visits Kailwada gang-rape victim, gives ultimatum to cops

Muzaffarnagar: Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan on Thursday visited the 32-year-old Kailwada gangrape victim and gave an ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh police to nab within three days the remaining four culprits involved in the assault two years ago.

Balyan also said that people will decide what to do next if the police does not arrest the absconding accused but asserted that no decision has been taken to hold a 'mahapanchayat' to deal with the issue.

As he assured the victim that justice will be done, Balyan, BJP's Lok Sabha MP from Muzaffarnagar, in a strong message to the police demanded that those arrested be booked under the stringent National Security Act(NSA). Muzaffarnagar had witnessed communal riots in 2013 that left 62 people dead and thousands displaced. In a shocking incident, a 32-year-old married woman was allegedly raped by two men two years ago.

They had also filmed the entire incident and circulated the clip on the social media. The accused were stated to be allegedly blackmailing the victim since then. The two accused, who belonged to the minority community, were arrested at Kailwada village near here on January 17.

A hunt is on for four others who had allegedly aided in the crime and were named in the victim's statement. "It is my responsibility to ensure there is action against the culprits.

So far, there is no decision on holding a 'mahapanchayat'. A decision has been taken that either the police should act within three days otherwise the people will sit together and decide what to do next," Balyan said. Hindu activists and former block president Virender Singh, however, have threatened to hold a 'mahapanchayat' if no "positive?steps" were taken in the case.

Striking a strident note, UP state BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai said, "three days mean three days and the culprits should be arrested. Otherwise BJP will hold protests to expose the ruling Samajwadi Party(SP) that it wants a repeat of 2013(riots) in Muzaffarnagar."

SP spokesperson Madhu Gupta said police is doing its job and cautioned against any media trial and inflaming passions. Congress' Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit out at Balyan over his remarks. "For the Union Minister, who has sworn by the Constitution to take law in his hand it itself reflects the criminal mindset," Surjewala said.

The Kailwada incident is the second such case in Muzaffarnagar district. A 40-year-old married health worker had allegedly committed suicide on January 13 after the video of her gangrape was uploaded on social media.