Parents at hospital, 14-year-old Dalit girl gangraped, burnt to death in Muzaffarnagar

A 14-year-old Dalit girl was raped and burnt to death in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar last Friday. While her family say the administration is trying to hush up the matter, police is yet to make any arrests although seven accused have been booked in the case.

According to an Indian Express report, the girl's charred body was found at a makeshift room next to the brick kiln she used to work at.

The girl and her family lived in the room next to the brick kiln and worked there. Last week, after her mother fell ill, her father left her along with her 12-year-old brother at the brick kiln to go back to their village.

This is when she was gang-raped by the group of men. While they were away, the parents were informed that their daughter was found charred.

Six men and the brick kiln owner have been booked on charges of murder, rape and sections of SC/ST Atrocities Act.

According to the report, the father has alleged that the girl was raped and murdered but the police is trying to make it look like an accidental death.

"She was taken by two men who work in the area. She was raped and murdered," the report quoted the victim's father as saying.

He also argued that the room had no electronic items or anything inflammable, how could there be an accidental fire.

Meanwhile, the Bhim Army has come out to protest and say that police is trying to bury the incident. However, the outfit has threatened to launch a bandh if action is not taken against the perpetrators.

The family, on the other hand, says they do not know if their daughter was targeted because of her caste, but all that they pray for is justice.