ON May 27, a DSMM delegation visited Jatnagla village in Muzaffarnagar, UP; the site of alleged gang rape and murder of a dalit girl. The victim was 14 year old and daughter of a brick kiln worker. The delegation comprised of Ajay Kumar-convenor DSMM, Surender Kumar-district joint secretary of CITU, Subhash Kumar-leader of Brick Kiln Workers Union and Suresh Kumar.

The delegation was apprised by the brick kiln workers that the incident took place on the intervening night of May 24. Raj Singh, father of the victim on the same day had gone to visit his ailing wife in their village Badhai Kalan and their two children; the victim and her 8 year old brother were left behind.

The incident of rape and murder was narrated to the delegation of DSMM by brick kiln workers. The delegation could not meet the father as he was not there.  They stated that the victim slept outside the house, which was a ‘kachha’ straw house as it was too hot inside. She was picked up from there and taken to a different location where she was raped and later killed.

According to the statement of Raj Singh, which was deposed before the police, her daughter was lifted from outside the house and took to a distance where she was gang raped and later killed on fear of the identity of the perpetrators getting exposed. Her body was brought back in the house and then put to fire. Raj Singh named Guddu-owner of the brick kiln, Pintu his accountant in the FIR along with five other people. The police have booked seven people under various sections of the IPC and POSCO act, however no arrests were made.

The DSMM has strongly condemned this incident and has asked for stern action against the culprits and has demanded that a fair compensation be given to the family of the victim.