The Hathras gang-rape-and-murder victim’s family on Monday said they feared harm in their village and wanted to shift to Delhi, and hoped that Allahabad High Court would accept their plea to transfer the case out of Uttar Pradesh.

The high court had in October ordered CRPF security for the family after they alleged intimidation by state police and cited meetings by local Rajputs in support of the four accused, who belong to their caste.

“We understand that our CRPF security is not forever and will be withdrawn in future. It will then become difficult for us to live here. The situation is volatile,” the 19-year-old Dalit victim’s father told reporters.

He said the CRPF had put up barbed-wire fencing around his house on Saturday, a day after the CBI filed a chargesheet accusing the suspects of gang rape and murder.

“A dozen CRPF personnel are guarding us. Now the fencing has been put up. This suggests they have some intelligence (about a possible attack) from somewhere. We are tense and don’t want to live in fear,” the father said.

Many Rajput leaders of the area had publicly threatened to harm the victim’s family if they didn’t withdraw their allegations against the four accused.

“We want to dispose of everything we have in the village and move to Delhi, and will be comfortable if the case too is transferred to Delhi,” he added.

A relative said the family hoped their house and small plot would fetch Rs 10 lakh. They have about Rs 40 lakh in the bank, which includes compensation received from the state government and assistance from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

“Their elder son has worked in Delhi in the past and knows the place. He may be able to start some sort of business there,” the relative said. “This is why they feel they would be safe in Delhi.”