CPI approach Yogi Adityanath to seek judicial probe into Jewar-Bulandshahr highway gang-rape

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Friday approached Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for a judicial probe into last month’s gang-rape of four women in Greater Noida and the removal of two top officials. The incident occurred on the Jewar-Bulandshahr highway on 25 May when eight members of a Greater Noida-based family, including four women, were waylaid while they were headed to Bulandshahr to visit an ailing relative. [caption id=“attachment_3495843” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] Upon resisting, one man was shot dead. The criminals then took turns raping his wife, sister, sister-in-law and mother. The victims were also looted of their valuables and cash. A day after Adityanath assured justice to the victims and directed the police to expedite the probe, CPI secretary K Narayana, in a letter to the chief minister, said removal of Gautam Budh Nagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Luv Kumar and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) A Bhargava was imperative for a fair probe. “After the gruesome incident, the SSP and CMO held a press conference, dismissing claims that the women were raped. This is ample evidence of their intention to divert and subvert the investigation,” said Narayana. Kumar and Bhargava, in a joint press conference on 26 May, rejected allegations of rape, citing preliminary medical examination reports. “If the said officers are allowed to continue, justice cannot be done. Hence, I may request you to suspend the said officers and issue orders for judicial probe immediately,” Narayana added.