Cases of rape and murder have increased manifold, with perpetrators having no fear of law and punishment. It is more so when it comes to targeting teenage girls belonging to SCs, STs, minority communities and vulnerable tribal members. These views were expressed in a press statement by Mohammad Shafi, National Vice-president of Social Democratic Party of India.

The gang-rape of a 16-year-old Dalit girl who was later set on fire by the perpetrators in Tanda area of Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh shows that criminals have no fear of punishment. This reflects serious loopholes in the law and order situation in the state, Shafi said. Although the heinous crime was committed on 7 September, it came to light three days later only when a video of the victim narrating her ordeal went viral. In yet another case of gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl at a village in Lakhimpur Kheri district, one of the five alleged rapists is still not sent to jail. This too after the girl’s brother filed an FIR at the local Police Station.

These and many such horrible crimes of rape, murder and torture show the sorry status of law and order in the BJP-ruled state, which is quick to bulldoze houses of minorities even without verifying their actual owner, Shafi added.

The SDPI leader demanded that the culprits be severely punished and the victims given justice, and state-of-the-art treatment at the cost of the rapists and their accomplices .