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| Hanged India girls' 'rape' in doubt | Hanged India girls' 'rape' in doubt |
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| A forensic investigation into clothing and swabs taken after the murder and alleged gang rape of two teenage cousins in northern India has concluded they were not sexually assaulted. | A forensic investigation into clothing and swabs taken after the murder and alleged gang rape of two teenage cousins in northern India has concluded they were not sexually assaulted. |
| The girls were found hanged from a tree in Uttar Pradesh state in May, in a case which sparked global outrage. | The girls were found hanged from a tree in Uttar Pradesh state in May, in a case which sparked global outrage. |
| Three suspected attackers were taken into custody along with two policemen. | Three suspected attackers were taken into custody along with two policemen. |
| At the time a local post-mortem examination confirmed multiple sexual assaults and death due to hanging. | At the time a local post-mortem examination confirmed multiple sexual assaults and death due to hanging. |
| The case was initially investigated by the state police, but later handed over to federal investigators at India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). | The case was initially investigated by the state police, but later handed over to federal investigators at India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). |
| Correspondents say it is not clear how the CBI will be able to resolve the apparent contradictions between the latest forensic conclusions and the earlier post-mortem performed by the local authorities. | Correspondents say it is not clear how the CBI will be able to resolve the apparent contradictions between the latest forensic conclusions and the earlier post-mortem performed by the local authorities. |
| The father of one of the victims said he was shocked by the latest report. | The father of one of the victims said he was shocked by the latest report. |
| "I don't know whether the samples sent to the labs were of my daughter or of someone else. Ever since the post-mortem was conducted every effort has been made to conceal the facts... Justice is being denied to us," he said. | "I don't know whether the samples sent to the labs were of my daughter or of someone else. Ever since the post-mortem was conducted every effort has been made to conceal the facts... Justice is being denied to us," he said. |
| Last month, the CBI attempted to exhume the bodies of the girls but their graves were under floodwaters and remain inaccessible to this day. | Last month, the CBI attempted to exhume the bodies of the girls but their graves were under floodwaters and remain inaccessible to this day. |
| But India's Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) was able to examine the clothes and personal effects of the two girls and reported that it found no proof of sexual assault, a CBI spokesperson told BBC Hindi. | But India's Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) was able to examine the clothes and personal effects of the two girls and reported that it found no proof of sexual assault, a CBI spokesperson told BBC Hindi. |
| The CBI refused to provide any more details, but media reports quoting sources in the CDFD said "no male DNA had been found on the clothes and personal effects" of the girls and also "no female DNA was found on the samples taken from the male suspects". | The CBI refused to provide any more details, but media reports quoting sources in the CDFD said "no male DNA had been found on the clothes and personal effects" of the girls and also "no female DNA was found on the samples taken from the male suspects". |
| The Indian Express reported that the laboratory analysed "items of clothing" and personal effects worn by the two victims as well as the clothes worn by the accused. It also said that blood samples and swabs from both the victims and the accused were examined. | The Indian Express reported that the laboratory analysed "items of clothing" and personal effects worn by the two victims as well as the clothes worn by the accused. It also said that blood samples and swabs from both the victims and the accused were examined. |
| Analysis: Geeta Pandey, BBC News, Delhi | Analysis: Geeta Pandey, BBC News, Delhi |
| The story of the hangings of two teenage cousins in a north Indian village is getting murkier with each passing day. | The story of the hangings of two teenage cousins in a north Indian village is getting murkier with each passing day. |
| The initial reports said the lower-caste girls had been gang raped and hanged by young men from a slightly higher caste. | The initial reports said the lower-caste girls had been gang raped and hanged by young men from a slightly higher caste. |
| A post-mortem carried out on the girls by a team of three local doctors in Badaun said the girls had injuries "suggestive of rape". | A post-mortem carried out on the girls by a team of three local doctors in Badaun said the girls had injuries "suggestive of rape". |
| Three men were arrested, along with two policemen, and remain in jail nearly three months after the crime. | Three men were arrested, along with two policemen, and remain in jail nearly three months after the crime. |
| But in recent weeks, reports being leaked by the investigators to Indian media have turned the story on its head. | But in recent weeks, reports being leaked by the investigators to Indian media have turned the story on its head. |
| Officials are now raising questions about the testimony of the victims' families - they say lie-detector tests done on the girls' families indicate "deception". | Officials are now raising questions about the testimony of the victims' families - they say lie-detector tests done on the girls' families indicate "deception". |
| Questions have also been raised about the credibility of the main witness, a neighbour of the girls. | Questions have also been raised about the credibility of the main witness, a neighbour of the girls. |
| Some reports have said the murders may even be a case of honour killing. | Some reports have said the murders may even be a case of honour killing. |
| All such reports have been vehemently denied by the family. | All such reports have been vehemently denied by the family. |
| But the latest round of revelations from the CDFD has added a further twist to the tale | But the latest round of revelations from the CDFD has added a further twist to the tale |
| How federal investigators will reconcile the contradictory reports of the two major forensic investigations is as yet unclear. | How federal investigators will reconcile the contradictory reports of the two major forensic investigations is as yet unclear. |
| The girls, who were from a lower caste, were found hanged from a tree in Badaun district on 28 May. Three suspected attackers were detained, along with two policemen accused of dereliction of duty and criminal conspiracy. | The girls, who were from a lower caste, were found hanged from a tree in Badaun district on 28 May. Three suspected attackers were detained, along with two policemen accused of dereliction of duty and criminal conspiracy. |
| The victims' families alleged it took police more than 12 hours to respond to reports they were missing. | The victims' families alleged it took police more than 12 hours to respond to reports they were missing. |
| The girls, thought to have been 14 and 15, went missing when they had apparently gone out to relieve themselves as they had no toilet at home. Their bodies were discovered the following day. | The girls, thought to have been 14 and 15, went missing when they had apparently gone out to relieve themselves as they had no toilet at home. Their bodies were discovered the following day. |
| Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus, which eventually led to the government tightening laws on sexual violence. | Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus, which eventually led to the government tightening laws on sexual violence. |
| This case also sparked a debate about the dangers for rural women who have to travel to nearby fields when they need the toilet. |