New Delhi: An SC/ST court on Thursday acquitted three out of four accused in the Hathras rape-murder case, holding one guilty.
The court held that Sandeep (20) was guilty of the crime, while acquitting Ravi (35), Luv Kush (23), and Ramu (26).
Sandeep was found guilty under Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections of the SC/ST act.
A 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras on September 14, 2020. She died on September 29 in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital during treatment.
While resisting rape attempt the victim reportedly ended up biting her own tongue inflicting severe cut on it.
The victim was cremated in the night near her home. Her family had alleged that they were forced by the local police to hurriedly conduct her last rites.
Local police officers, however, said the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family".
The victim's family said that they were upset at the acquittal and would soon move high court, challenging the lower court's decision.
The rape case led to nationwide outrage in 20202 triggering protests for justice.
with input from IANS and other sources