The men, who were arrested on August 2, have been formally charged with rape, murder, and destruction of evidence, among other crimes following the horrific incident in New Delhi
Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Four men have been charged with raping and murdering a nine-year-old girl in India.
The girl, who has not been named, was sent by her mother to fetch water from the nearby crematorium in New Delhi on August 1.
The men, who were arrested on August 2, have been formally charged with rape, murder, and destruction of evidence, among other crimes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said they could face the death penalty if found guilty, according to CNN.
Her death led to four days of protests in the country after her mother found her body an hour after she left to fetch water.
She was reportedly found dead with wet clothes, a bloodied nose, bruised hands and arms, and blue lips, on the crematorium floor.
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Image:
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The girl’s body was discovered by her mum who went searching for her after she failed to return more than an hour after she was sent to fetch water.
The mother told the BBC she found her daughter’s body on the crematorium floor but was not allowed to take it away.
Protesters earlier this month have burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to condemn the alleged rap
The alleged rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in New Delhi has been branded a caste crime by members of her community, sparking four days of protests
Three suspects, including a Hindu priest, closed the gates and refused to let her leave, she said.
The trio told her not to phone the police, claiming officers would ‘steal her organs and sell them’ and also demand an autopsy.
The girl’s dad and around 150 villagers put out the pyre, but only managed to save the girl’s legs.
It means police may never be able to prove if she was raped.
Three suspects, including a Hindu priest, closed the gates and refused to let her leave, she said.
The trio told her not to phone the police, claiming officers would ‘steal her organs and sell them’ and also demand an autopsy.
The girl’s father and around 150 villagers put out the pyre, but only managed to save the girl’s legs – meaning police may never be able to prove if she was rape
The girl was a member of the Dalit class, formerly known as the untouchables, and made a living begging outside a Sufi Muslim shrine.
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Image:
REUTERS)
The alleged rape has sparked widespread anger in India.
Protesters burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to condemn the alleged rape.
Demonstrators also burned the likeness of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside the Nangal crematorium. He visited the family and has reportedly offered to ensure justice is served.
Hundreds of protesters demanded the suspects face the death penalty and called for several police officers to be suspended for allegedly harassing the family.
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Members of the Dalit community in New Delhi have repeatedly expressed outrage online and branded the incident a ‘caste crime’ because the accused priest is an upper-caste Brahmin.
Others have participated in mass rallies calling for justice.
Sunday’s alleged sex attack is just the latest to be reported in India, where a woman or girl is raped every 15 minutes according to federal data.
India’s 200 million low-caste Dalits have long faced discrimination, and campaigners say attacks have increased during the coronavirus pandemic.
An average of nearly 90 rapes were reported in India every day last year, according to data by the National Crime Records Bureau, but large numbers are thought to go unreported due to social stigma and a lack of faith in police and judicial authorities.
