If the authorities don’t act, I will, says Shahjahanpur rape victim

Deserted by her husband and ‘hounded’ by three-time BJP lawmaker Roshan Lal Verma, this 28-year-old resident of Andkheda village in Nigohi police circle of Shahjahanpur says she will not sit idle till her tormentors are sent behind bars. Accompanied by her five-year-old daughter ‘Princess,’ brother and father in tow, the woman tells M Tariq Khan about her six-year-long struggle to get justice and how her life was made hell by the powerful politician and his elder son Manoj.

Excerpts:

The case was registered in 2011. But you sat on a ‘dharna’ against the MLA now. What took you so long to raise your voice?

I have been pursuing the case by writing letters to the authorities demanding action against Verma and his son since 2012. But the MLA managed to muzzle my voice and the media too did nothing to highlight my plight.

What exactly happened on that fateful day?

I was coming back from college. It was around 4 pm. The MLA and his son Manoj were sitting in a parked car (I don’t remember the make of the vehicle) with curtains drawn on the window. As I passed by the vehicle, Verma and his son grabbed me and pulled me inside. Before I could scream, they gagged me, tied my hands and blind-folded me. They took me to one of their house, I don’t know exactly where. Then Verma asked his son Manoj to teach me a lesson for not listening to him and left, after which Manoj assaulted me sexually.

Why did they ‘abduct’ you?

I don’t know. But I was kept locked up in the house for eight to nine days. Their younger son Vinod use to bring food for me. He told me that his father would get me killed. It was with his help that I finally managed to escape from that house. He brought me to Shahjahanpur and put me in a house.

What is your relationship with Vinod? Is it the reason why his father and brother are angry with you?

Yes, he (Verma) was against our relationship and had been telling Vinod not to see me. But we tied the knot in a court marriage on July 23, 2011.

So, this girl with you is Vinod’s daughter?

Yes.

But Verma says Vinod was already married when he tied the knot with you. Were you aware of this?

No, I was not aware that he was married.

Where is Vinod now? Is he with you in this fight?

He is very sick and lives with his father now.

But Verma says he has disowned Vinod and has nothing to do with him because of his conduct?

He is lying. Vinod lives with his father. You can go and check his (Verma’s) house anytime.

Why did you retract your statement and charges against Verma and his son in a signed statement before the magistrate?

I had no choice. Verma and his goons were threatening me and my parents. Because of his clout, the police also did nothing. I was crying before the magistrate when I recorded that statement. I moved the court when I learnt that the CB-CID had given clean-chit to the MLA and his son. I told the court that the statement was extracted from me under duress. The court has refused to accept the CB-CIDs probe report and asked it to investigate the matter further.

You have said you would immolate yourself if action is not taken against the MLA and his son by May 21. Are you serious?

I did not set the deadline. It was the authorities who told me that they were looking into the matter and sought time till May 21. You just wait and watch, if they don’t act, I will.