2017 Unnao rape case
The Unnao rape case refers to the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl on 4 June 2017 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India. On 9 December 2019, the rape victim was set on fire on her way to testify against her alleged rapists and died of her injuries with 90% burns. On 16 December 2019, former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was convicted for the rape on 20 December 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Further, Sengar was found guilty in the death of the girl's father in judicial custody.
2017 Unnao rape case | |
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Joint protests for the Unnao and Kathua rape case | |
Location | Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Date | 4 June 2017 |
Attack type | Rape, and murder |
Convicted | Kuldeep Singh Sengar |
Verdict | Life imprisonment |
Two chargesheets had been filed in the case. First one after an year after rape, due to public pressure as rape victim attempted to self-immolate in UP CM Yogis office, The first charge, filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation on 11 July 2018, accused Sengar, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Uttar Pradesh, of the rape. The second was filed two days later accusing Sengar, his brother, three policemen and five other individuals of framing the rape survivor's father as the perpetrator.
Citing police inaction on rape case and her father arrested on false charges, The rape survivor attempted to immolate herself at the residence of Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, on 8 April 2018. Her father died in judicial custody shortly thereafter. These incidents brought public attention to the case, and the incident was widely reported on in the national media in April 2018. Another rape case, in Jammu and Kashmir, also received national attention during the same period, leading to joint protests seeking justice for both victims.
Following a truck collision on 28 July 2019, resulting in the serious injury of the victim and death of two relatives, it was revealed that the family had been threatened and had written the Chief Justice of India for help. On 31 July 2019, the Supreme Court and Chief Justice acknowledged the case.