They could not give her a dignified cremation as her body was burnt by the local police in the presence of the District Magistrate without her family’s presence or consent. “We brought the ashes and flowers from her cold pyre. We would never know if it really was my sister who they cremated,” her brother says.
After the recent acquittal of the three accused, villagers, most belonging to the Thakur community, refrained from speaking to the media. Those who did, openly supported the four who according to them are the “real victims”.
Narendra Sisodia, a villager, 48, blames the girl’s family, media, and politicians for defaming their village and says: "Koi kaand aiso thodi hoyi ho, na koi rape hua hai (No scandal or rape has happened here). “What has happened to the boys is wrong. They had good characters. It’s the girl’s family who has benefitted from all of this. They have garnered popularity and received money,” he adds.