It is ‘rule of thugs’ in Uttar Pradesh: Krishna Tirath

NEW DELHI - Union Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath Monday lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh administration, terming it as “goonda-raj (rule of thugs)”.

The minister said that she will visit the state over the next few days to take stock of the deteriorating law and order situation, especially concerning women.

UP mein goonda-raj, jungle-raj chal raha hai (it is the rule of thugs and jungle in UP). There is absolute lawlessness and this must be stopped, Tirath told reporters here.

The minister was reacting to the shocking case of a teenaged Dalit girl who was subjected to a brutal attack late Saturday after she resisted a rape attempt.

The girl’s ear was nearly chopped off and fingers smashed by three youths in her village in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, police had said Sunday.

The teenager was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon. One man has been arrested.

I have asked for a report on the matter from the National Commission for Women (NCW) within two days. After that I will visit the state personally to take stock of the situation, Tirath said.

I will meet the officials, the chief secretary and will also speak to Chief Minister Mayawati on the issue. I will also talk to the people to hear what they have to say we cant let these things keep happening, she added.

What is worse is that in many cases politicians and ministers are found to be involved. This is unacceptable, the minister said.

Earlier NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said that the commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the issue and has formed a committee to investigate the matter.

“Crime against women in UP are committed again and again. I had visited Kanpur and Lucknow just recently and had meetings with different people and government officials and they assured that such incidents will not happen again, but it has, Vyas said.

I have also written to the chief minister that she herself should do something for the Dalit girl. But I have found that the government and police are not sensitive. Even after so many rape cases, nobody takes up the responsibility to do something about it,” she added.