when the incident occurred
An incident of gangrape of a woman came to light in Unnao on June 4, 2017. She was 16 years old at that time. On December 16, 2019, former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was convicted in a rape case. On December 20, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also found guilty in the case of his father’s death in judicial custody. Following this, in view of the threat to the life of the rape victim, she was shifted to Delhi. The case came to light in Delhi itself.
there was a danger to life
At his one-room house in southwest Delhi, he said he had moved to the capital in 2017 because he felt his life was under threat in UP. On July 28, 2019, two of his aunts died when their car crashed. A lawyer was seriously injured. The Supreme Court provided CRPF protection to him and his family. The Supreme Court had transferred the five cases registered in connection with the rape from a Lucknow court to a Delhi court. The court had given directions to conduct hearing on a daily basis and complete it within 45 days.
In September 2019, the Delhi High Court had directed the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to help the victim and her family get a house in the capital. The victim said that she had earlier been given a place to live with her mother in Nangloi following the court’s directions. However, last year I decided to start afresh. I got married on May 29, 2023, and sought permission from the court to live separately.
The Delhi High Court issued directions
Following the victim’s appeal, in November 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the DCW to provide her with a separate living space keeping in view her marriage and the birth of her first child. They had their first daughter. The High Court had said that her home would not be taken away without its order. For the past one year, the victim has been living in her current house with her husband and son. Next to her house is another one-room house, where CRPF personnel deployed for her security live.
The rent and electricity bill of both the rooms are to be paid to DCW. A member of the commission, on condition of anonymity, said that DCW pays the rent and electricity bills of both the houses by taking money from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department of Delhi. The victim said she knocked on the doors of DCW and WCD several times and asked for the dues to be cleared, but to no avail.
UP government pays the amount
Once DCW pays the amount, the UP government refunds that amount. But only when WCD gives money to DCW, they can make the payment. She contacted WCD, DCW and AAP government to know the reason for the suspension of payment but did not receive any response. The victim said she knocked on the doors of DCW and WCD several times and asked for the dues to be cleared but to no avail.
Hearing on Kuldeep Sengar underway
The victim said that Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s bail plea is currently being heard. I still have to go to court at least five times a month. That is why I cannot leave Delhi. I am afraid that if he gets bail, my family will be in danger. That is why I am involved in all the proceedings. But now I am afraid of losing this house. My husband’s income is very low and it is not enough to live in the city. The rent and electricity bill are directly given to the house owner.
The victim said that the payment was also irregular earlier but it has stopped since July. She said that I have been paying the electricity bill from my own pocket for the past few months. The victim also said that despite the court order, proper efforts have not been made to provide her with training.
talk about completing studies
The victim also talked about her studies. Showing the written applications to the DCW, she said that when this incident happened, I was illiterate. I realised that only if I received formal education would I be able to get a job. My life can be better in the future. She showed her class the 10th and 12th National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) certificates. The victim said that I wrote to the DCW several times to ask for help in English or computer training, but nothing was done. Is it not the responsibility of the authorities to provide a better life for the rape victim? Am I asking too much?
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