Unnao rape victim laid to rest amid tight security

The rape survivor, who was set ablaze by five persons, including those, who had raped her and died from extensive burn injuries at a Delhi hospital, was laid to rest amid tight security near her native village in Unnao district, about 70 kilometres from here, on Sunday.

Though the mortal remains of the victim had reached the village on Saturday evening, the family decided to perform the last rites on Sunday.

The family members had earlier demanded the presence of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath at the burial and refused to perform the last rites until he reached there.

They also demanded a government job for one member of the family.

A panicky government rushed two ministers to the spot and the family relented after being assured a government job. They would also be given two houses and an arm's license.

The family members buried the body of the victim in a field beside the graves of her grand parents. They had refused to cremate the body saying that it (body) there was nothing left to burn in her body.

Besides the two UP ministers, leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress were also present at the burial. A huge crowd was also witness to the burial.

The victim was set ablaze by five people, including one bailed out rape accused, while she was on way to meet her lawyer to discuss the progress of the rape case.

She had suffered 90 per cent burn injuries and was airlifted to Delhi on Thursday evening. She succumbed to her injuries on Friday night.

The incident triggered a nationwide outrage and the Adityanath government came under attack from different quarters.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Unnao and met the family of the deceased. SP president Akhilesh Yadav also embarked on a dharna before the state assembly in protest against the incident.

Both of them demanded resignation of the chief minister on moral grounds. Adityanath said that the case would be fast tracked and announced a financial assistance of rs. 25 lakh to the family of the deceased.