SR Darapuri, vice-president of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in Uttar Pradesh, says most of the rape victims are poor women and girls in remote villages. Many, he says, are low-caste Dalits (formerly known as "untouchables").
"I analysed the rape figures for 2007 and I found that 90% of victims were Dalits and 85% of Dalit rape victims were underage girls," he says.
"It is well known that until not very long ago, in certain areas of the state's southern Bundelkhand region, new brides of Dalit farmhands had to sleep with their rich, high-caste landowners on their wedding night."
Mr Darapuri says the practice no longer exists - but Dalit women and girls remain vulnerable to predators.
Despite caste discrimination being illegal, it is still rampant in many areas of India, and girls themselves are considered social liabilities in some as well, regardless of caste. Dalits of both genders have endured terrible crimes such as acid being thrown upon them. So this violence against Dalit girls is not surprising, but very sad. I hope that Indians can fight this sort of violence, both legally and socially. Until attitudes change, men will continue to get away with these crimes, and women and girls will continue to die or live with terrifying memories and horrible scars.
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