Unnao case: Was it a mishap or an orchestrated accident?

On Sunday (July 28), a speeding truck hit a car, critically injuring the Unnao rape survivor and killing two of her aunts while they were on their way to Rae Bareli.

The rape victim who is battling for life in the Trauma Centre of a Lucknow hospital had alleged in 2017 that she was raped by BJP lawmaker Kuldip Singh Sengar, a four-time MLA from Bangarmau seat of Unnao.

On Sunday around 1 pm, the victim along with her two aunts and a lawyer was on her way to Rae Bareli District Jail to meet the only surviving male member of the family, her uncle Mahesh Singh, who is serving a life sentence in jail. It was raining heavily at that time and suddenly the car was hit by a speeding truck. The two aunts of the victim were pronounced dead on arrival at the Trauma Centre of King George’s Medical University. The lawyer is said to be in coma while the rape victim is said to be in a critical condition.

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

Sinister motives

The incident seemed just out of a Bollywood film, where attempts are made to silence a rape victim through an orchestrated accident. And the incident has given birth to a lot of questions, doubts and conspiracy theories too.

Question 1. The rape victim and her family were provided security cover by Uttar Pradesh Police. A gunner and two policewomen were assigned to protect the rape victim. Why was this security cover missing when the accident took place?

Question 2. Why was a part of the number plate of the truck that hit the victim’s car, blackened? Was it a plan to bump off the entire family? Had the truck not been damaged, it would have easily fled, giving the impression of a hit and run case.

Police are now investigating the whereabouts of the security detail at the time of the accident. The truck bearing the registration number UP-71 was from Fatehpur District and according to police the driver and the owner of the vehicle have been arrested. The vehicle has been impounded and further investigations are on. But there is no word from the law enforcers on the blackening of the number plate.

A gory past

The victim in 2017 had alleged that she was raped by BJP lawmaker Kuldip Singh Sengar, a four-time MLA from Bangarmau seat of Unnao. The case had raised serious questions on the efficiency of the Uttar Pradesh government and the state police. The victim had alleged that she was raped by the MLA after being lured to his house on the pretext of being employed. Even though an FIR was filed, the accused roamed free and was not arrested for a long time. In fact, when local police told media that they were still looking for him, he was seen at the office of the Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow, where he reportedly had a heated exchange with the top official and left in full media glare.

Later, the father of the rape victim was taken to police custody after being booked under frivolous charges under the Arms Act. He was allegedly beaten and tortured in police lockup by the MLA’s brother Atul Sengar and his henchmen. He later died in police custody. The incident came as a big embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh Police and its style of functioning. Following this, the government was criticized for protecting the accused MLA and his brother Atul Sengar.

Later, Yunus Khan, a witness to this case died in August 2018.

Sunday’s accident only strengthens one’s belief in the theory that it was an attempt to eliminate the victim and thus close the case. This, especially when the family of the rape victim has been alleging of being threatened by the MLA to withdraw the case. The state has an infamous past in regard to such murders and it’s high time the Yogi Adityanath government and Uttar Pradesh Police came out clean on this case.

(The writer is a senior editor at Business Television India)