In a recent distressing event reported from Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, a serious rape case has surfaced, shedding light on the ongoing struggles faced by members of the Hindu Dalit community. This particular incident involves a 14-year-old Hindu Dalit girl who was subjected to a horrendous act of violence. The accused in this case are three individuals from the same locality and Muslim community: Junaid, Arif, and Jamiruddin. The primary suspect, identified as 42-year-old Md Zunaid, is alleged to have executed this vile act.

The details of the rape are deeply troubling. It is reported that "Junaid is said to have held a minor hostage and raped her for hours." This statement highlights the severity of the ordeal faced by the young girl, indicating prolonged suffering. The involvement of the other two accused, Arif and Jamiruddin, further complicates the case as they are accused of attempting to silence the victim's family. They allegedly approached the family, offering a sum of money, specifically "Rs 2-4 lac to cover up the incident," in a deplorable attempt to obstruct justice.

The local authorities have taken prompt action upon receiving the complaint. The police initiated their investigation immediately, registering an FIR against all three accused persons. The incident is reported to have occurred within the jurisdiction of the Hafizpur police station in Hapur. The complaint was lodged by the victim's father on the 22nd of March (Friday), a day after the rape took place.

According to the victim's father, the rape occurred on the 21st of March 2024, at around 3:30 pm. He detailed the circumstances leading to the attack, stating that his daughter was outside, hanging dry clothes. It was during this mundane task that she was confronted by Junaid, "son of Imam Khan from the same village." Junaid then forcibly "covered the girl's mouth, grabbed her, and took her with him to the basement of Jamiruddin’s dairy." It was in this location that the young girl was held hostage and subjected to the brutal rape.

In the unsettling aftermath of the rape incident in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, further details have emerged, painting a vivid picture of the victim's struggle for justice amidst threats and intimidation. Following the rape, the victim, a minor Dalit girl, was able to return home, her distressing experience ending when some local children, playing nearby, heard her screams. This intervention caused the assailant, Junaid, to abandon his actions and flee the scene, a moment of unexpected rescue prompted by the curiosity and concern of the children.

Once safe at home, the victim disclosed the full extent of her ordeal to her family, sparking a resolve in her father to seek justice. Determined to report the rape to the authorities, he set out for the police station the following day, only to be confronted en route by Jamiruddin and Arif, two individuals from their village. These men attempted to downplay the gravity of the rape, suggesting to the victim’s father that the matter should be kept quiet and described it as a "minor incident."

Their approach to silencing the victim’s family involved a significant financial bribe. Jamiruddin and Arif offered the victim's father between Rs 2-4 lakh, an attempt to buy his silence and complicity in burying the details of the rape. However, when the father remained steadfast in his decision to report the incident, refusing their money, the confrontation escalated. Jamiruddin and Arif resorted to caste-based insults, leveraging societal prejudices in their threats. They didn’t stop at verbal abuse; they escalated their intimidation by threatening the safety of the victim's entire family, suggesting a willingness to go to extreme lengths to prevent any legal repercussions for their actions. 

The accused Arif and Jamiruddin said, “Anyway Dalit lady are meant for this only.”

Upon the distressing encounter with Jamiruddin and Arif, who attempted to dissuade him from seeking justice with threats and a bribe, the victim's father, fraught with fear, persisted in his quest for justice. He arrived at the police station, resolute in his demand for stringent action against the perpetrators. His determination culminated in the formal lodging of a complaint against Junaid, Jamiruddin, and Arif, leading to their being charged under severe sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 376 (rape), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation). Additionally, recognizing the caste-based nature of the crime and the protection of minors, the accused were also charged under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The news outlet OpIndia has managed to obtain a copy of the complaint filed by the victim, providing further insights into the case. In conversations with OpIndia, the father of the raped girl shared the demographic dynamics of their village, noting that the Muslim population accounts for approximately 92%. He highlighted the societal backlash and the difficulties his family has been encountering in the aftermath of the crime, illustrating the compounded challenges faced by victims in contexts of minority status and societal pressures.

"Dalit's daughter are meant to be raped" 42 years old Md Zunaid says it after rap!ng a minor dalit girl. Later he & his friends Arif-Zamiruddin threatened the family to not report the case. This is the real side of "Jai Bhim-Jai Mim" type slogans. pic.twitter.com/tykae3l4ge — Omkara (@OmkaraRoots) March 27, 2024

The uncle expressed that the family's decision to come forward has led to increased hardships, shedding light on the isolating experience of seeking justice against prevalent social norms. He provided additional background on the main accused, Junaid, mentioning his age to be 42 years and detailing his financial status and influence in the village, which stems from earnings accumulated through unspecified illegal activities in Gulf countries.

This concluding part of the narrative not only emphasizes the legal proceedings initiated against the accused but also casts a spotlight on the broader societal and community dynamics at play. It reveals the isolating journey of the Hindu victim's family, from the act of violence itself to the daunting path of seeking justice amidst societal and demographic complexities. The family's experience underlines the intersection of crime, social structures, and community responses, painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced by those who dare to stand against injustice in their quest for accountability and protection under the law.