What is badaun case?
The Badaun case refers to the 2014 gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in the village of Katra Sadatganj, Badaun district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The incident garnered significant national and international attention due to the brutality of the crime and the subsequent handling of the investigation.
- The Incident: Two cousins, aged 14 and 15, went missing on May 27, 2014, after leaving their homes to relieve themselves as their homes lacked proper toilet facilities. Their bodies were found hanging from a mango tree the following morning.
- Initial Investigation: The initial police investigation was widely criticized for being mishandled. Initially, the police downplayed the incident.
- Allegations: The families of the victims alleged that the girls were gang raped and murdered by five men from their village.
- CBI Investigation: Due to public outrage and pressure, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI concluded that the deaths were a case of suicide and not rape and murder, citing lack of evidence and inconsistencies in the statements. The CBI theory was based on honour killing.
- Court Proceedings: The families of the victims rejected the CBI's findings and continued to maintain that the girls were raped and murdered. The Allahabad High Court later acquitted the accused men.
- Public Reaction: The case sparked widespread protests and outrage, highlighting the issues of violence against women, caste discrimination, lack of sanitation facilities, and police corruption in India.
- Aftermath: The Badaun case became a symbol of the challenges faced by women in rural India and led to increased scrutiny of the Indian justice system. It also prompted discussions about the importance of providing adequate sanitation facilities to prevent such incidents.
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