The CPI(ML) Uttar Pradesh unit has released the findings of a nine-member investigation team into the gang-rape and murder of a 22-year-old Dalit woman at a private hospital in Pratapgarh’s Raniganj region on 27 March. The incident occurred while the victim was on duty, and the investigation highlights the growing violence against women under the Yogi Adityanath-led government.
CPI(ML) state secretary Sudhakar Yadav condemned the state’s failure to address such crimes, citing the protection afforded to criminals that allows violence to flourish, particularly against women and marginalized communities. The investigation revealed that after the victim's death, hospital authorities fabricated a story of suicide, which the family disputed, pointing to visible signs of assault. Despite protests, the police initially refused to register a case, and violent repression was carried out against the victim's family.
CPI(ML) has demanded the immediate arrest of all involved in the crime, justice for the victim’s family, and compensation, including 50 lakh rupees, along with government employment and housing for the family. The report also calls for the withdrawal of false charges against the villagers.
The incident exemplifies the unchecked lawlessness and the exploitation of Dalits and women under the current regime, the party emphasized.
