Unnao rape victim set on fire by accused dies, netizens’ reaction again violent, vengeful

The Unnao rape victim who was set ablaze and airlifted to Safdarjung Hospital here on Thursday has died.

The victim who had more than 90 per cent burn injuries lost the battle after 43 hours and died due to cardian arrest.

According to reports, the Unnao rape victim, was set ablaze by five men who had raped her in march and were out on bail.

The 23 year old victim ran for a kilometer with 90 per cent burns, in intense pain, crying for help and assistance. She was on the way to the Rae bareli court when she was attacked and set on fire. As per reports, after the incident with burn injuries, she took a bystander's mobile phone and called the emergency help number and police herself.

"She suffered cardiac arrest at 11:10 pm and we tried to resuscitate her, but she could not survive and at 11:40 pm she died," said Dr Shalabh Kumar, Head of Department (Burns and Plastic), Safdarjung Hospital.

The victim had told the police she was thrashed and stabbed before being set on fire near her village in Unnao by five men, including two she had accused of raping her and their fathers. She was on her way to a court hearing in her rape complaint when the men surrounded her near a railway station.

The woman, in her burnt state, was conscious all the way to the hospital, where she gave a statement to the police identifying all five attackers.

"At 4 am I was going to a local railway station to catch a train to Rae Bareli. Five people (she named them) were waiting for me. They surrounded me and first hit me on the leg with a stick and also stabbed me in the neck with a knife. After that they poured petrol on me and set me on fire," the woman told the police from her hospital bed in Unnao

“When I started shouting, a crowd collected and the police was called," she had said. The police say a medical report has not confirmed the stab injury.

Alleged rapist Shivam Trivedi, who was among the attackers, had been released on bail in the case five days ago. His co-accused Shubham Trivedi, who had been missing, also participated in the attack.

All five attackers were arrested from their homes.

Twitter is abuzz with #unnaorape with netizens now calling for a Hyderabad style encounter for the perpetrators of the crime in Uttar Pradesh by the UP Police.

"Unnao rape victim could not survive from burn injuries. How UP police is going to act now? Will it follow the precedent set by Hyderabad police? Accused is out already on bail...Let's see, how justice prevails and law takes its own course from here", said a tweet.

"RIP Unnao victim , hope with your life you will help redefine witness protection in our country", a netizen said.

"On the day when #unnaorape survivor is set on fire, four rape accused in telangana rape case are killed in an encounter by police, without trial", said another tweet..

"UP police you know what to do next". "karo encounter", is the sentiment on twitter. Another tweet said, "It's not a good reflection on part of the @UPGovt & @Uppolice! The threat was known and it could have taken steps to ensure a safe place elsewhere. Was tht not possible? She fought for justice, but the authorities have failed her!".

As per a report, Unnao is now the "rape capital" of Uttar Pradesh with a plethora of such cases.

with IANS inputs