Madhya Pradesh: Rape Survivor Dies After Falling From Ambulance; Incident Puts Question Mark On Authorities

Accident or murder? This is something everyone in Madhya Pradesh is thinking, talking, and discussing after reports claimed that a Dalit woman, rape survivor, died after allegedly falling from an ambulance which was carrying the body of her uncle, who was beaten to death by some miscreants.

But what sparked the debate and made everyone doubt the accident was another unnatural death. Earlier, the woman's brother was killed by a mob led by Vikram Singh Thakur, an accused booked for sexually harassing her in 2019, and now her own death (double murder) raised everyone's eyebrows.

It was reported that at the time of the rape victim's brother's death, rape accused had mounted pressure on the family to withdraw the complaint, allegedly threatening everyone in the family with harsh consequences.

On Saturday, the woman's uncle, Rajendra Ahirwar, died as collateral damage when two groups of miscreants had a scuffle. The additional superintendent of police Lokesh Sinha told the media that Ahirwar sustained serious injuries and the incident happened in the Khurai police station limits.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has alleged continuous pressure to withdraw the rape case was mounted by the accused, and rape victim's uncle's death was to keep mouth shut. However, now alleged killing of the rape victim has put a big question mark on the law and order of the state.

"There was constant pressure on us, but we did not withdraw the case," brother of the deceased rape victim told the media.

"Our brother was killed and we could not let that go. Then they killed our uncle on Saturday. My sister and the uncle's parents had left from Sagar with the body in an ambulance when she fell from the van," he added.

He also alleged that the ambulance driver took an unusual route, which should be investigated.

"We were under constant pressure to withdraw the molestation case," he alleged. "Our uncle was killed over this issue."

Taking cognizance of the sensitive matter and slamming BJP's state government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, the government is always found standing with the culprits instead of the victim.

"Such incidents break the courage of every person who has no other way to seek justice except the law," Rahul Gandhi's post on X reads.

"I assure you that we will create such a system where even the weakest person will be able to raise his voice strongly against oppression. We cannot allow justice to become dependent on wealth and power," he added.