India: Hanged woman rape claims in Uttar Pradesh

A recent gang rape of two girls prompted hundreds to march against violence towards women

A woman's body has been found hanging from a tree in a village in Uttar Pradesh, Indian police say.

The district police chief told the BBC a post-mortem would be held to see whether the woman was raped. Her family has reportedly said she was gang raped.

It comes weeks after two teenage girls in the same state were gang raped and found hanging from a tree, prompting protests against attacks on women.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said protecting women should be a priority.

'Threatened'

Bahraich's Superintendent of Police Happy Guptan told the BBC the victim appeared to be a 44-year-old woman from a nearby village.

She had previously been threatened by locals for selling liquor in the area, he said.

"[A] post-mortem report is yet to come... after it comes out we will have more information about her death and possible rape."

The family had lodged reports against five people in relation to her death, he added.

In May, two teenage girls were found hanging from this tree after being gang raped

On 29 May, two teenage girls were found hanged from a tree in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district. A post-mortem examination confirmed multiple sexual assaults and death due to hanging.

The victims' families said it took police more than 12 hours to respond to reports they were missing, and a federal police investigation was ordered.

In the city of Lucknow, hundreds of protesters demanded that the local government minister end violence against women in the state.

Three suspected attackers have been held, along with two policemen accused of dereliction of duty and criminal conspiracy.

'People won't forget'

Separately on Wednesday, Mr Modi said in a parliamentary speech that the government had to act against attacks on women.

"Respecting and protecting women should be priority of the 1.25 billion people in the country," he said.

"All these incidents should make us introspect... the country won't wait and people won't forget."

Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus.

The government tightened laws on sexual violence last year after widespread protests following the attack.