A National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) member on Monday visited Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, where two teenage Dalit sisters were allegedly raped and murdered, and their bodies were found hanging from a tree.
Anju Bala, a member of the NCSC, said she had met the family members of the deceased and assured the family of all possibilities of government help and aid.
“The accused have committed a very heinous crime. Such people should be given capital punishment,” said Bala.
Taking stock of the situation, the NCSC member said that the accused would be strictly dealt with. Bala later left for the district headquarters, where she would meet with the District Magistrate, police officials, and other administrative officials to review the situation.
The deceased sisters were found hanging from a tree in the region on September 15.
The Uttar Pradesh police arrested six people in connection with the incident.
The NCSC on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of media reports on the deaths of the sisters and issued a notice to authorities seeking an Action Taken Report (ATR).
Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order, said: “Junaid, Suhail and Hafeezur Rehman were reportedly arrested during an encounter with the local Nighasan police and SWAT team in the Nighasan police station area on Thursday morning. Following their interrogation, the other accused, Karimuddin and Chhotu Gautam, were also arrested.”