Hathras gangrape: At a protest in Kolkata

On Wednesday, following a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath formed a three-member SIT to investigate the incident and asked it to submit a report within seven days. Facing protests and widespread outrage, the state also said it would set up a fast track court to hear the case. Besides, it announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the victim’s family, a government job for a family member, and a house in Hathras city under the State Urban Development Agency.

The Opposition parties, including the Congress, SP, BSP, and AAP, have targeted the government for the alleged “forced cremation” of the victim.

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Hathras gangrape: The funeral pyre of the Hathras victim, hours later. (Express photo: Amil Bhatnagar)

The body of the victim was cremated a little after 3 am Wednesday — with her family saying police had forcibly performed the last rites late at night even though they wanted to bring her body home one last time.

The victim was initially admitted to a district hospital 15 days ago with her tongue cut off and spinal cord severely injured, among other serious injuries. She was later shifted to Aligarh hospital for treatment, before moving to Safdarjung Hospital in the national capital. The police said the victim had been dragged into a field and gangraped. She had also been strangled with her dupatta.