THE Uttar Pradesh State unit of the CPI(ML) has said in a statement that the disappearance of a woman law student from the hostel of a college in Shahjahanpur run by former Central Minister of State for Home and BJP leader Swami Chinmayananda has put the Uttar Pradesh Yogi government in the dock.

In a statement issued on 28 August 2019 the CPI(ML) said that while the Unnao victim still awaits justice, the Shahjahanpur incident brings to mind grave apprehensions that there could be a repeat of the Unnao case here. Instead of first registering the missing girl’s father’s complaint, the police first registered Swami Chinmayananda’s FIR about a ransom demand for Rs 5 crores. This police action indicates that here also the police and administration have started by working ‘under pressure from the top’ and attempting to protect the influential leader.

The CPI(ML) said that the disappearance of the woman student from the hostel despite her video appeal for help going viral and the absence of any news of her whereabouts even after four days have passed are a matter of grave concern; more so, as there is already a prior case of sexual harassment against Chinmayananda. It is appalling to think what is happening to daughters under this government which talks big about educating and protecting daughters (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’)! If daughters are not saved from such incidents, how can they go on to study and get educated?

Keeping in view the seriousness of the matter, the CPI(ML) appeals to the Supreme Court to intervene without delay and ensure the safety of the student.