Truck rams into car carrying Unnao rape survivor, family; 2 killed

A car in which the survivor of Unnao rape case, her family and lawyer were travelling was hit by an over-speeding truck in Rae Bareli on Sunday (July 28), killing two members while leaving her and the advocate critically injured, police said.

BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, who is an accused in the rape case, was arrested on April 13 last year. Unnao Superintendent of Police Madhav Prasad Verma said that the rape survivor, her paternal and maternal aunts along with their advocate met with an accident while on their way to meet her uncle, who is lodged in Rae Bareli jail.

The rape survivor’s maternal aunt succumbed to injuries in a district hospital and the others were transferred to a trauma centre in Lucknow, police said. ADG Lucknow Rajeev Krishna said, “Two women were killed in the accident. The rape survivor and the lawyer are in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at the trauma centre in Lucknow.”

“The rape survivor’s family had been provided security, but the gunner had not accompanied them on Sunday. The reason behind it is being probed,” he said, adding, “The truck involved in the accident has been impounded. It has a Fatehpur district registration plate.”

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Verma said that, on the directives of senior officials, he along with the mother of the rape survivor, three sisters, and brother were rushing to Lucknow. The SP also said, “It has come to light that the gunner who usually accompanies the family (of the rape survivor) did not go with them. Why the gunner did not accompany them is being probed, and based on its outcome, action will be initiated accordingly.”

Meanwhile, UP Congress leader Aradhana Mishra, who went to visit the injured on the directions of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “The rape survivor is in a very critical condition and the advocate is on ventilator. According to doctors, one person had died on the spot, while another was declared dead upon their arrival at the trauma centre.”

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the incident was a conspiracy to kill to woman. “Unnao and UP demand justice for the victim daughter of the abominable rape crime. But instead of justice, what has happened is a conspiracy to kill,” Surjewala tweeted.

“While her father was killed in police custody, now she has lost her family and is herself battling for her life,” he said. “Adityanath ji, my murderer is also my judge. Will he give a decision in my favour?”

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Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the road accident was “shocking”. Vadra wondered whether any hope for justice can be expected from the ruling BJP, whose MLA Kuldeep Sengar is an accused in the case.

“The road accident involving the Unnao rape victim is shocking. Where has the CBI probe in this case reached?” she asked on Twitter.

“Why is the accused MLA still in the BJP? Why is there laxity in the security of the victim and the witnesses? Can you hope for any justice from the BJP government without an answer to these questions,” the Congress leader added.

Quoting eyewitnesses, Rae Bareli Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Singh said that an over-speeding truck hit the car carrying the rape survivor. “There were showers and the truck driver lost control over the vehicle which rammed into the car,” he said.

The truck driver fled from the spot after the accident. A woman belonging to Makhi police station area in Unnao had alleged that Sengar, a four-time MLA who represents Bangermau in the UP Assembly, raped her teenage daughter at his residence in 2017.

The case had come to light after the victim allegedly attempted self-immolation outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence.