This is the tree in which two teenage cousins were found hanging, following an alleged gang rape that some locals accuse police of covering up in India's northern Uttar Pradesh.

Five men from the village are believed to be involved.

Now, residents are seeking the same fate for those responsible.

(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RESIDENT OF VILLAGE, PURNIMA, SAYING:

"We want that the way we found the girls hanging from the tree, that the accused should be found hanging in the same manner. We want that such a crime is never ever repeated."

The girls' hanging deaths have caused an outcry as far away as New Dehli.

(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NEW DELHI RESIDENT, ARJEET MISHRA, SAYING:

"What they did to those little girls was very wrong. There was this Delhi gang rape case, which created awareness among people, especially women. But even after that, people are behaving so fearlessly, this is very unfortunate."

A spate of violent crimes against women has put India