The Hathras gangrape and murder case has left the nation shaken and outraged.
While the rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in itself were horrific, public anger was heightened by the actions of the UP government in the handling of the headline-grabbing Hathras case.
From delayed FIRs to hurried cremations, Uttar Pradesh authorities have received much flak for their conduct during the entire episode.
Amid heavy criticism, several contradictory reports emerged about the sequence of events in the Hathras case — with varying accounts coming from the police and the victim’s family.
Now, India Today has definitively pieced together the chronology of the crime that has the nation again once again clamouring for the safety of its women.
TIMELINE OF THE HATHRAS CASE:
September 14
9.30 am: The 19-year-old victim and her mother are out, working in the fields in Bhoolgarhi village of Hathras. They are both working at a distance of around 100 meters from each other.
The fields they were working in are owned by upper-caste farmers. The victim and her mother often went there to collect grass for their animals.
The scene of the crime. (Photo: India Today)
The victim’s mother hears her daughter’s screams and rushes to find her. To her horror, she finds the young girl lying blood-soaked and her tongue was cut off. The mother says she covered her daughter with her scarf and the same blood-soaked cloth.
The woman calls her son, who reaches the spot on his bike after some time. They both take the victim to the local police station.
10.30 am: The victim reaches the Chandpa police station along with her mother and brother. Records a statement before the police and lodges a complaint.
Media reports suggest police delayed registering the victim’s complaint and asked her family to take her away.
While the victim slips in and out of consciousness, her brother claims an attempt has been made on her life by one Sandeep.
Based on the complaint, local police files an FIR against accused Sandeep under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).
It is here that the first available statement of the victim is recorded.
In the video of the statement, the victim is heard saying, “gala daba diyaa [I was strangled]. Asked why, she replies “jabardasti na karne de rahi tasu”, which roughly translates to “because I resisted their forced advances”.
11.45 am: Police take the victim to the primary health centre in their jeep.
12.1012.30 pm: Primary health centre doctor says the victim’s condition is serious. The doctor adds that the local clinic does not have the facilities to treat her. The victim is referred to the Aligarh Muslim University’s JN Medical College and Hospital.
4.10 pm: The victim is officially admitted at the JN Medical College in Aligarh. While the journey from the local clinic in Hathras to AMU is a 2-hour drive, the JN Hospital records indicate the victim was not admitted till the evening.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Aligarh.
September 15: Over the next week the victim’s condition worsens, however, she regains consciousness and speaks to her family.
September 19: Victim’s statement recorded at JN Medical College. She names two attackers including Sandeep. Makes first explicit mention of molestation.
On the basis of this statement, the police start action under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 354 (molestation).
Sandeep is arrested by police.
September 21-22: Victim makes follow up statements before a magistrate in which she names three attackers — Luvkush, Ravi and Ramu besides Sandeep. Accuses them of sexual assault. This later becomes her last available statement.
Police files case against all under charges of gangrape along with attempt to murder.
Hathras SP maintains no evidence of sexual assault has been found by medical experts. In their medical report, JNMC doctors say that there are signs of use of force, however, opinion regarding penetration intercourse is reserved pending availability of the forensic report.
September 21-26: Over the next five days, the remaining three accused are arrested.
September 28: Victim is critical and is taken to the Safdurjung Hospital in Delhi.
AMU doctors later clarify they referred her to AIIMS.
September 29: Victim dies early morning at Safdurjung Hospital.
After day-long protests and drama, the victim’s body taken to Bhoolgarhi.
Bhim Army and Congress workers protest outside the Safdurjung Hospital in Delhi after the death of the Hathras victim. (Photo: PTI)
UP Police forces the family to cremate body overnight.
#HathrasCase UP Police officials forcing grieving parents to cremate the body overnight saying “I’m from Rajasthan & in our culture we don’t keep the body for long. Baaki sab aap dekh lijiye”
Mother is begging in front of the cops, please let me take the body home once, only once pic.twitter.com/aQjoTlvSvl— Tanushree Pandey (@TanushreePande) September 29, 2020
Family pleads with authorities to let them take body home one last time but are lathicharged by police and locked inside their home.
#HathrasCase Major ruckus in the village right now. UP cops & officials forcing kin to cremate body overnight. Family begging that let us at least take the girl home one last time. Village people came in front of the ambulance, saying “we will not let you burn our girl forcibly” pic.twitter.com/gHAv4Oq5Yd
— Tanushree Pandey (@TanushreePande) September 29, 2020
September 30: At around 3 am, the victim is forcibly cremated by authorities under orders from Hathras DM. No family member present at the cremation.
ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE – Right behind me is the body of #HathrasCase victim burning. Police barricaded the family inside their home and burnt the body without letting anybody know. When we questioned the police, this is what they did. pic.twitter.com/0VgfQGjjfb
— Tanushree Pandey (@TanushreePande) September 29, 2020
Hathras victim cremated by police overnight. (Photo: India Today)
The case sets off nationwide protests with people demanding justice for the victim as well as action against the UP government authorities.