Manisha Valmiki was a Dalit girl who was brutally gangraped in India – she died on 29th September, 2020. The next day, on September 30, her dead body was taken to Hathras village, and cremated against the wishes of her family, at the behest of the UP Police officials.
https://twitter.com/TanushreePande/status/1311054885970821121?s=20
Body cremated against family’s wishes
The family resisted on cremating her at midnight because it was a village tradition not to cremate bodies after sunset. However, the cops allegedly locked the relatives and forced a few of her immediate family members to perform her last rites, following which the body was taken away and cremated by the cops.
Policemen on duty formed a human chain barricade to keep media away from the site – and officers present refused to answer any questions related to the cremation. The case of Manisha Valmiki was not covered by media and netizens were already angry and tweeting about her death.
It is reported that the family begged to take their beloved daughter’s body home but the police did not allow them to do so.
Read More: Who is Manisha Valmiki and why is #JusticeforManishaValmiki trending on Twitter?
Media person Tanushree Pandey exposed the incident
A video made and posted by Tanushree Panday, exposing the incident, made rounds on twitter. Twtitteratis lauded the brave woman for exposing the police and corrupt system, while lamenting the death of the rape victim.
It's not a body that they burnt. it's the democracy, it's the judiciary, it's the constitution, it's the hope of the common people,hope of the poor n marginalized, hope that the system will ensure justice is what they burnt behind ur back..
— Phakeer Admi 🏹🚜 🇮🇳 (@Mln_Launda) September 30, 2020
Bravery journalism hats off no circus trick on cameras rolling like bananas republic channels straight to the reality neither nothing less or more🙏Hopes you will have more bravery moves let's your voice speaks not noises 👍👏
— Saravan (@Sarvaviruksha) September 30, 2020
Tanushree, well done for exposing this. Proud.
— Mufti Islah (@islahmufti) September 30, 2020
Background of the Manisha Valmiki rape case
Manisha Valmiki was from a Dalit Valmikin community and she was tortured with her tongue cut and spine broken.
Manisha Valmiki was allegedly gangraped by four upper caste men in UP’s Hathras who also tried to strangulate her which left her fighting for her life in the intensive care unit (ICU) for days. Manisha Valmiki was in the ICU, gave her statement to police on Tuesday and said she was raped by four upper caste men on 14th September when she had gone to collect fodder for animals.
“The incident is very saddening. Our government stands with the victim’s family. Investigation started immediately and four accused have been arrested. Strict action will be taken. The law will take its course,” said UP minister Siddharth Nath Singh
As per an NDTV report, all four rapists are in jail and will be charged with murder.
Uttar Pradesh is seeing a large number of new cases of young girls being raped, and in many cases these young girls are from Dalit communities. Lakhimpur Kheri in UP, has seen many incidents of minor girls being raped or gangraped after they went outside of their village.