2020 Hathras gang rape and murder

2020 Hathras Gang Rape and Murder
2020 Hathras gang rape and murder (Uttar Pradesh)
LocationHathras, Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates27°36′N 78°03′E / 27.60°N 78.05°E / 27.60; 78.05
Date14 September 2020 (2020-09-14)
Attack type
Rape, murder, dragging and strangling (with dupatta)
Deaths1
Perpetrators4
AccusedSandip Thakur, Ramu Thakur, Lavkush Thakur and Ravi Thakur
ConvictedSandeep Thakur - For culpable homicide (IPC 304)
VerdictNo Rape or Murder Proven
Convictions3 accused Ramu Thakur, Lavkush Thakur and Ravi Thakur were released by the court. None of them were present at the crime spot. Sandeep Thakur convicted for culpable homicide (IPC 304) and no rape charges (IPC 374) established.
Chargesmurder, gang rape and violations of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

On 14 September 2020, a gang-rape of a 19-year-old woman was reported in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, India, by four men. She died two weeks later in a Delhi hospital.

Initially, it was reported that one accused had tried to kill her, though later in her statement to the magistrate, the victim named four accused as having raped her. The victim's brother claimed that no arrests were made in the first 10 days after the incident took place. After her death, the victim's body was cremated by the police allegedly without the consent of her family, a claim denied by the police.

The case and its subsequent handling received widespread media attention and condemnation from across the country, and was the subject of protests against the Yogi Adityanath government by activists and opposition. The mishandling of the case additionally caused a severe damage to the reputation of the Uttar Pradesh Police, which faced harsh criticism from the CBI, lawyers and activists, who took-over the investigation after noticing the misconducts and the botched up investigation committed by the Uttar Pradesh Police.