‘Living in jail at home for 6 years, no social life, no job’: Hathras rape victim’s family

AGRA: Six years after the brutal gangrape and death of a 19-year-old Dalit woman at Boolgarhi village in UP’s Hathras district triggered nationwide outrage, her family says round-the-clock security has effectively turned their lives into an unending “house arrest”.“There has been no social life over these years. No one has visited us, and no one in the family can go out to earn a livelihood. We are facing severe financial distress, bordering on starvation,” the victim’s brother told TOI.Speaking a day after Allahabad high court (HC) ordered Uttar Pradesh govt to rehabilitate and relocate them to Noida or Ghaziabad within three months, the family expressed relief, hoping the move will finally allow them to rebuild their lives. The family now has eight members—the victim’s parents, two brothers, a sister-in-law and three children.An HC bench comprising Justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh rejected the state’s earlier proposal to relocate the family to Kasganj, Etah or Aligarh, calling it “no decision in the eyes of law” for failing to consider the family’s request for Noida or Ghaziabad. The court noted “unnecessary resistance” on the state’s part in complying with its previous directions.Despite CRPF protection, the family describes their daily reality as one of extreme isolation. “It is as if we have been locked inside a jail at home,” the victim’s brother said.“We have security, but whenever we travel for court hearings to Lucknow, Delhi, or elsewhere outside the district, we have to arrange and pay for private transportation ourselves. A significant amount of money has gone into the legal process over these six years,” he said, adding that hostility from some local residents has further heightened their safety concerns.The family believes moving to the National Capital Region (NCR) offers a path toward self-reliance and safety. “There would be better job opportunities and a better future in Noida or Ghaziabad. Even if govt provides a job to one family member, others can seek private employment, and the children can access better education,” the brother said.Following a separate court directive, the victim’s young relatives were recently enrolled in a local Kendriya Vidyalaya, marking one of the few administrative steps resolved so far.Amid the trauma and legal battles, the family holds on to a quiet reminder of the young woman in their courtyard. “There is a Tulsi plant in our courtyard that was planted by my sister. It is her last memory in our home, and we still take care of it every day,” the brother said.The 19-year-old Dalit woman died in Sept 2020 after sustaining severe injuries during an alleged assault by four upper-caste men in Boolgarhi. The local administration drew fierce criticism after officials cremated her mortal remains in the middle of the night without the family’s consent. In the trial that followed, three of the four accused were acquitted, while one was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Agra | Silver Rate in Agra | Bank Holidays in Agra | Public Holidays in Agra | Agra AQI | Weather in Agra | Petrol Price in Agra | Diesel Price in Agra | CNG Price in Agra | LPG Price in AgraStay updated with the latest Agra news. Download the TOI App.