Gangrape suspected as bodies of two Dalit girls found hanging in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, 6 arrested

Yesterday, on September 14, the dead bodies of two sisters were found hanging from a tree in an agricultural field in Lakhimpur Kheri's Tamoli Purwa village. As per the primary investigation, the police authorities are suspecting a gangrape followed by murder.

"A total of six accused have been arrested. Yesterday, these two girls were cajoled into a field where we suspect that they were raped and murdered. We cannot divulge minute details as of now as the primary investigation is still underway and the post-mortem report is awaited," Sanjiv Suman, Superintendent of Police, told the press today, on September 15.

It is learnt that the six accused who are arrested are charged under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 and one of the accused has been nabbed following an encounter in which he was shot at in the leg.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has assured strict action against the accused. "The government will take such an action that the souls of their coming generations will also shiver. Justice will be given," he was quoted.

Reacting to the incident, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati took to Twitter to blame the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in the state. "This incident strongly exposes the claims of the government in the matter of law and order and women's safety etc. in UP," Mayawati tweeted.