‘I will not back down’: Unnao rape survivor on eight years of fighting for justice

For eight years, she has fought a relentless battle for justice, despite the police, the government, and powerful authorities standing in her way. In the process, she lost her father and other loved ones, and every day brings new threats to her life. Yet the young woman from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, refuses to back down, carrying the hope of a new era of justice for women in India. In this interview, she shares the story of her struggle, her resilience, and the unbreakable determination that drives her forward.

In Delhi lives a young woman whose scars run not only through her mind but across her body as well. She now lives in the national capital, having fled her home in Unnao at the age of 17 with her elderly mother. Today, her life is constantly under the watch of CRPF security personnel. Though her fight is for justice, she keeps her face hidden from the public eye. Not only have the government and police failed her, but at times, even the courts have turned away. Yet, she has not relented.

On June 4, 2017, she was allegedly gang-raped in her village by Atul Sengar, son of BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger, along with their driver and others. She is now 25 years old, married, and a mother to a two-year-old child. The legal battle that followed came at a horrific cost. Her father was murdered, and in a violent accident that also claimed the lives of two of her father’s sisters and her lawyer, she and her driver suffered severe injuries. While recounting her ordeal to Malayala Manorama, she revealed the scars of over 250 physical wounds etched into her body, marked by painful stitch marks.

The police and the government did not help you. The accused had political backing. Yet, how have you managed to continue this fight for eight years?
“This fight has defined my life. Over the past eight years, I have spent nearly four years in hospitals, but I have never given up. I want justice. I believe that only by fighting can one hope to succeed. There are women who have fought similar battles before me, and there are people who continue to support me. Their faith gives me strength.

I met Bilkis Bano of Gujarat in Delhi, a woman who endured far greater brutality than I did. She told me that I am a daughter of this country and that I must never buckle down. Her words gave me immense courage.

I have also learned that Kuldeep Singh Sengar has allegedly placed a bounty of ₹1 crore on my life and the lives of my family members. Knowing this, I am aware that this fight may last my entire lifetime.”

Has the denial of justice from authorities ended now?
“Even today, I face the same denial of justice from investigative agencies that I faced eight years ago. The UP Police, which was reluctant to register my complaint then, continues to maintain the same attitude.

I sent complaints via speed post, asking the police to register cases against those circulating my photographs on social media. However, the police claim they never received these complaints. They insist that I return to Uttar Pradesh. But if my vehicle is not bulletproof, it is not just my life that will be at risk—the lives of the CRPF personnel accompanying me will also be endangered.

CBI officials, she alleges, are acting in close coordination with Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The High Court granted him bail due to deliberate lapses committed during the investigation and court proceedings. Witness statements were also manipulated.”

Have you ever been back to Unnao?
“Yes, twice, but only for evidence collection. The village where I was born has effectively been denied to me. A section of the villagers sides with Kuldeep Singh Sengar, while those who remain live in fear. In July 2018, while returning from my village, our car was deliberately rammed by a truck. Our driver and I survived, but my lawyer and my father’s two sisters were killed.”

Didn’t you receive any assistance from the UP government?
“The only support the government has provided so far is ₹25 lakh as compensation for my father’s death in police custody. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has openly claimed that Kuldeep Singh Sengar and Brij Bhushan Yadav, who are accused of abusing women wrestlers, are his close friends. Is it appropriate for a leader to befriend people who harm the daughters of this country?

Since 2018, my father’s brother has been imprisoned in a fabricated case and has not yet received bail. Throughout this ordeal, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have supported me right from the beginning.”

How about support from others?
“Initially, many people expressed sympathy for me. But many criticised me after I chose to marry a man who understood me and stood by me. Is a woman who has survived sexual violence no longer entitled to a family life? My husband is from my own village. After our marriage, he was expelled from the private firm where he worked. Today, his parents, our two children, my elderly mother, and I are all living under severe financial strain.

I have received repeated offers promising lakhs of rupees if I withdraw from the case. I want none of that money. What I want is justice. Kuldeep and the other accused must be punished in a way that ensures they never again dare to look at a woman with ill intent.”

How do you see the legal battle ahead?
“The only possible conclusion to this long and painful chapter is justice for the tragedy my family and I have endured. Until that happens, I will continue to fight. It is a fight for the dignity of every woman in this country.”