Bulandshahr gang-rape: Activists pull up Akhilesh Govt., demand change in mindset

New Delhi/Jaipur/Bangalore, July 31 (ANI): Taking serious note of the gang-rape in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, the activists today urged those in power not to shelter the criminals and called for a change in mindset. Former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Mamta Sharma said Uttar Pradesh is the worst as far as crime is concerned as a mother and daughter were gang-raped in front of their own family members. "As far as police is concerned, I would say that the National Commission for Women must take suo motu cognizance in such cases," she said. Pleading the people to change their mindset towards women, Sharma said Uttar Pradesh truly needs a change along with their mentality and attitude towards women. "It is a very sensitive case. So the chairperson of that state commission and the National Commission for Women should together investigate the matter,"she added. Meanwhile, former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Barkha Shukla Singh held the administration responsible. "See, National Highway-9 (NH-9) is a very famous and one of the busiest roads. So, I think the administration is to be blamed and there should be barricades and police station at various places," Singh told ANI. Women activist Brinda Adige on her part dubbed the incident as shameful "It is a very shameful incident in a country, which is developing the cities, is building roads and flyovers and bridges, but is unable to extend any protection to the women of the country," she said. Adige also drew the attention of those in power to the crime against the feminine gender. "They (politicians) are unable to extend any help to our children, to our taxpaying citizen, to the citizen that puts them into power. And I think, we are also at fault, for not holding the politicians accountable for not holding the system accountable and not questioning why this safety and protection is not extended," Singh added. Another women activist Nisha Sidhu said that the people had high expectations from Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh hoping that several initiatives would be taken to ensure the safety of women. "Till the time rules are not followed strictly, the criminals are not saved and will not be given any political patronage, they will not be saved. And for that they need strong willpower which I think Akhilesh government lacks," Sidhu said. A woman and her minor daughter were allegedly gang-raped by a group of robbers in Bulandshahr district on Friday night. The victims were on their way from Noida to Shahjahanpur with the other family members when their vehicle was stopped near a cycle repairing shop in Dostpur village on NH-9, which connects Noida and Bulandshahr. According to one of the relatives of the victims, a group of six to eight men dragged the mother-daughter duo from the vehicle and took them to the nearby field and allegedly raped them. The culprits also snatched money and jewellery from the possession of the victims and fled the scene of crime. As per reports, the family filed a police complaint the next day. No arrests have yet been made in this case.(ANI)