Sadly, rapes in UP no longer shock

In SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's Azamgarh constituency, a girl was gang-raped a week ago. The latest incident has happened in his nephew Dharmendra Yadav's parliamentary constituency of Badayun, and one of the accused is a police constable.

A rape victim, dejected at the accused not being arrested by police, consumed poison at an election rally being addressed by Akhilesh Yadav in April. The incident took place at the KM Inter college grounds in Bijnore, when the rape victim was trying to reach a point near the chief minister but was prevented by the security personnel present at the rally.

A girl was force-fed acid in Bareilly after a gang of youngsters raped her and then burnt her body with acid to prevent it being identified. The MP from the area, Santosh Gangwar of the BJP, is a minister of state at the centre with independent charge. Not a word from him so far. His party leaders are, however, chest beating on the Badayun case on Lucknow's streets, facing water canons and cane charges.

Small girls, infants, teenagers and young girls are being brutally and sexually assaulted in the state and nobody seems to be care beyond their statements to print and television reporters. Many rue that things were not going to change at any time soon.