Unnao rape case: Deceased witnesses’ family members try to immolate themselves

The sole witness in the harrowing Unnao rape case died under mysterious circumstances. Bereaved family members of the deceased sole witness, Yunus Khan, allegedly tried to immolate themselves in front of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence on August 25, after they were barred from meeting him. The police then detained the kin.

Unnao rape case: Family members of the deceased witness in the case allegedly attempt to kill themselves in front of Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow after they were allegedly not allowed to meet UP chief minister. All of them have been detained by the police. pic.twitter.com/2RE4sfppDQ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 25, 2018

The incident of death of the 32-year-old occurred on August 18, allegedly under mysterious circumstances.

“The family of Yunus had come to Lucknow and was adamant about meeting the Chief Minister and getting inside his residence. They have been taken to the Hazratganj Police Station, so that their grievances can be heard and the district concerned be informed about it,” said senior officer Vijay Pandey of the Gautampalli Police Station.

Yunus’ body was buried on August 25 without the permission of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the investigating agency in the case. “The body of Yunus was exhumed; it was sent for post-mortem examination. The body was exhumed in the presence of Qazi sahab,” Additional District Magistrate of Unnao, BN Yadav told news agency PTI.

Viscera will be preserved for pathology and chemical analysis.There is no injury mark on the body. Even DNA has also been kept: Dr Ashutosh Vashney, one of the doctors who conducted autopsy of Unnao rape case key witness, who died under suspicious circumstances. (25.8.2018) pic.twitter.com/iWKLVcTdpi

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 25, 2018

Members of the family however, claimed that they were against the burial. “The administration was building pressure on us. We did not want the post-mortem to be done as it is against our Shariat,” said Jaan Mohammad, the brother of Yunus.

Yunus was allegedly imprisoned by the local police and framed for possessing illegal firearms. The deceased was a crucial witness in the case registered after the death of the father of the teenager in April of the teenager.

On July 12, the CBI charged BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar for raping the 16-year-old. Sengar’s brother and four others were also charged in connection with the killing of the father in police custody.

Also Read: Video of molestation in Unnao goes viral;two arrests made after manhunt