Authorities in India have said that two local police officers have been sacked for their refusal to aid in the search of two missing girls who were later discovered to have been gang-raped and hanged. BBC News said three suspects have already been arrested, along with the two policemen who have been charged with dereliction of duty and criminal conspiracy.
The sacking of the law enforcement officers had been sort of an answer by the Indian government as rape incidents in the country are seen on the rise. The Indian government has alreayd promised to set up a fast-track court to prosecute those who were responsible for the harrowing attack that happened this week in Uttar Pradesh.
BBC recounted a statement by the father of one of the victims, who told the news agency that he was ridiculed by police when he asked for help in finding his missing child. He stated that when police found that he belonged to a lower caste, he claimed that they refused to look for his daughter.
Correspondents have said that divisions between castes in India run deep, and violence is reportedly being used often by upper castes in order to instill fear in lower casts.
The girls, who were cousins at ages 14 and 16, reportedly went missing on Tuesday night in Badaun district. The two, who were said to be lower than the caste group known as "Other Backward Classes," had went out to relieve themselves as they do not have toilets at home. The bodies of the victims, bearing signs of multiple sexual assaults, were found the next day.
Despite fresh gang rape attacks of minors occurring in the same state this week, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh reacted passionately to a question about the safety in the Indian state at a news briefing. Addressing the journalist who had delivered the question, Akhilesh Yadav said, "You are safe, why are you bothered? No other state has the kind of police control room we have here. If there is any incident, we will take action."
