Ayodhya (UP), Feb 2 (PTI) – The brutal murder of a 22-year-old Dalit woman in Ayodhya has triggered a political uproar, with Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad breaking down in front of reporters while addressing the incident. The young woman's body was found in a canal on Saturday, and her family has alleged rape and murder, claiming her eyes were gouged out, her bones broken, and her body bore deep wounds.
Prasad, the Faizabad MP, visited the victim’s home and met her grieving family before addressing a press conference, where he emotionally declared, "I failed to save her." He vowed to raise the issue in Parliament and, if justice was not delivered, threatened to resign. “Let me go to Delhi, to Lok Sabha. I will raise this matter before (PM) Modi. If we don’t get justice, I will resign,” he said, his voice trembling.
Political Reactions and Outrage
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, responding to Prasad’s emotional address, dismissed it as "theatrics." Speaking at a poll rally, he alleged, "When the investigation proceeds, the involvement of some criminal from the Samajwadi Party will surely surface."The opposition, however, fiercely criticized the UP government over the incident. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati condemned the crime, calling it "inhuman treatment" and demanded strict action.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the BJP government for failing to protect Dalit women. Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, stated, “If the administration had paid heed to the family's cries for help over the past three days, perhaps her life could have been saved." Priyanka Gandhi called the incident "barbaric" and accused the UP government of turning a blind eye to atrocities against Dalits.
The Crime and Police Investigation
The victim had gone missing on Thursday night after reportedly attending a Bhagwat Katha. Her family filed a missing person complaint on Friday. The next morning, her body was discovered just 500 meters from her village. According to family members, she was found with her hands and legs tied, deep wounds covering her body, and one of her legs fractured.Ayodhya police have detained two individuals for questioning but have not yet received the post-mortem report. “Once we get the report, we will take further action,” said Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari.
As the investigation unfolds, the case has become a flashpoint ahead of the upcoming bypoll in Ayodhya’s Milkipur assembly segment on February 5. With emotions running high and political parties locking horns over the incident, the demand for justice continues to grow.
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