Cremation of Indian rape victim causes anger
Protests erupted in India on Wednesday (September 30), after police had the body of a female victim of gang rape cremated late at night, against the wishes of her family.
The 19-year-old woman belonged to the Dalit community, the lowest rung on India’s caste system, and was attacked just over two weeks ago near her home.
She died in hospital on Tuesday from her injuries.
The victim's brother told Reuters neither police nor government officials sought the family's permission to perform the last rites of the victim in the early hours.
And that they had to stand behind barricades for the cremation, which was in her home village in Uttar Pradesh.
However, police said they did have consent from the family to proceed.
This claim was backed up by District Magistrate Praveen Kumar Laxar.
“With their consent only, she was cremated. Her family members were present there. To make this allegation is absolutely wrong.”
The crime has outraged India, which has a poor reputation when it comes to crimes against women and is viewed as one of the worst places in the world to be female.
Dalits complain they are denied equal protection under the law because of prejudice.
Police have arrested four men in connection with the crime.
