The UP government has given an additional 10 days to the three-member SIT investigating the alleged gang rape and killing of a 19-year-old

Lucknow: The UP government has given an additional 10 days to the three-member SIT investigating the alleged gang rape and killing of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras as the probe is not complete, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The special investigation team, constituted on September 30 and led by Home Secretary Bhagwan Swarup, was initially given seven days to submit its report.

Yogi Adityanath

But the UP government later sought a CBI probe into the case and the criminal conspiracy to spread caste conflict it has suspected. On Tuesday, it told the Supreme Court it wanted an apex court-monitored CBI inquiry into the incident to ensure no vested interests will be able to create fake, false narrative with oblique motives".

"Yes...the time for submitting report for the SIT has been extended by 10 days," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said.

Hathras

Asked about the reasons for the extension, he added, "The reason is one. The probe is not complete."

The Yogi Adityanath government is fighting severe criticism for its handling of the case, particularly after the local police burnt the woman's body at night without the family's approval. However, officials said the cremation was done as per the wishes of the family.