As a teenage rape survivor demanding justice battles for her life (Politician accused of rape expelled from BJP, 1 August), we are shocked and outraged at the Indian government’s approach to violence against women and girls and its shielding of alleged perpetrators, particularly those who are leaders or close associates of the ruling BJP. Nothing has been learned from the brutal gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kashmir in 2017, following which BJP ministers addressed protest marches in support of the rape-accused.

This time the alleged perpetrator is a BJP member of the legislative assembly from Uttar Pradesh, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has denied the charge.

Every stage in the survivor’s struggle for justice has been dogged by threats and violence. Sengar’s supporters allegedly brutally assaulted the girl’s father, who was held in police custody and subsequently died. A key witness to these events also died mysteriously. Though Sengar has been awaiting trial in prison, the violence continues.

The family claimed they received a series of dire threats from Sengar’s associates. On 28 July a truck with its number plate obliterated with black paint hit a car carrying the rape survivor. Two aunts accompanying her were killed, and her lawyer seriously injured, while she remains critically ill. Amid growing protests the BJP finally expelled Sengar.

Accusing BJP leaders and their associates of rape or murder seems enormously risky. The British government’s current preoccupation with post-Brexit trade deals and home secretary Priti Patel’s alleged admiration for those in power in India must not mean these blatant human rights violations are obscured.

Prof Navtej Purewal Soas University of London

Prof Gargi Bhattacharyya University of East London

Prof Meena Dhanda University of Wolverhampton

Prof Shirin Rai University of Warwick

Prof Virinder Kalra University of Warwick

Prof Ravinder Barn Royal Holloway, University of London

Prof Valentina Vitali University of East London

Prof Pritam Singh University of Oxford

Prof Ben Rogaly University of Sussex

Dr Kalpana Wilson Birkbeck, University of London

Dr Shakuntala Banaji London School of Economics

Dr Nikita Sud University of Oxford

Dr Sumi Madhok London School of Economics

Dr Akanksha Mehta Goldsmiths, University of London

Dr Rashmi Varma University of Warwick

Dr Alessandra Mezzadri Soas University of London

Dr Lotika Singha University of Wolverhampton

Dr Anandi Ramamurthy Sheffield Hallam University

Dr Yasmin Gunaratnam Goldsmiths, University of London

Dr Rahul Rao Soas University of London

Dr Penny Vera-Sanso Birkbeck, University of London

Dr Katy Sian University of York

Dr Feyzi Ismail Soas University of London

Dr Jennifer Ung Loh Soas University of London

Dr Nisha Kapoor University of Warwick

Dr Sukhwant Dhaliwal London Metropolitan University

Dr Nitasha Kaul University of Westminster

Meena Kandasamy novelist and activist

Vivienne Hayes CEO Women’s Resource Centre

Baljit Banga executive director Imkaan

Anber Raz co-chair Imkaan

Anjum Mouj chair London Black Women’s Project

Taranjit Chana chair GMB Union Race

Meena Patel Southall Black Sisters

Pragna Patel director Southall Black Sisters

Yasmin Rehman CEO Juno Women’s Aid

Camille Kumar anti-violence against women and girls activist

Sarbjit Johal South Asia Solidarity Group

Amrit Wilson writer and activist

Tabitha Benjamin singer and songwriter

Rahila Gupta journalist and activist

Rhea Tuli ‘Queer’ Asia