World Council of Arya Samaj president Swami Agnivesh on Friday demanded a CBI probe into the “violent and barbaric” incident of gang rape and alleged murder of two cousins at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh.
“The two girls, who were 14 and 15 years of age, were found dead on Wednesday. Their bodies were found hanging from mango trees in Katra Shadat Ganj, a village in Budaun. An autopsy confirmed that they had been raped and strangled,” he said.
“A case of rape and murder was reportedly registered against four men only after angry villagers protested against the alleged police apathy,” said Agnivesh, coming out in support of a demand by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati for a CBI probe.
“For centuries upper-caste Hindus were free to attack, rape and even murder those from low castes and that too, with complete impunity. Instead of punishing the culprit, victims of rape are often ostracised by their families and villages. This has been the reason why for years many rape cases were never reported,” he said, adding that the Arya Samaj would soon organise a social awareness programme in Badaun and demand harsh punishment to the perpetrators under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and compensation to the victims’ family.
