Shock in India over the rape and murder of two girl sisters of the discriminated Dalit caste

Six men have been arrested for the rape and murder of two sisters aged 15 and 17 The police investigation has aroused suspicion and has sparked protests from neighbors and opposition parties The minors belonged to the Dalit caste (or untouchables) and were found hanged from a treeShock in India over the rape and murder of two sisters aged 15 and 17. The girls were found hanging from a tree in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. They were Dalits (or untouchables); that is, they belonged to the poorest and most discriminated caste in society. An autopsy confirmed that the minors had been raped and murdered. In the village where they lived, in the Lakhimpur district, her family is broken with grief. The girls’ mother witnessed her kidnapping by three men who arrived on a motorcycle. So far, six people have been arrested for the rape and murder, the BBC reports. One of them is a neighbor and the other five live in a nearby town. Police say the minors were in a relationship with two of the men. The case has outraged Indian society and has once again brought to the fore the sexual violence faced by 80 million Dalit women and girls, at the lowest in the caste hierarchy that prevails in India. Faced with this problem, the most critical claim that this violence is exacerbated by the actions of the authorities. They denounce that the police take too long to register a complaint and that when this is finally achieved, it raises many doubts about the existence of a violation. The victims look helpless. The authorities have been accused, on other occasions, of protecting the guilty. The investigation has also aroused suspicion in this case. For this reason, there have been protests by neighbors of the victims and opposition parties. Dalits are victims of numerous attacks every year. According to human rights organizations, women from this discriminated caste are especially vulnerable to sexual violence. Last August, another case caused a stir in the country and sparked intense protests. On that occasion, a nine-year-old girl was raped and killed as she went to fetch water near her home in New Delhi.