Section 144 imposed in Hathras; Rahul, Priyanka stopped on the way
The administration in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras has imposed prohibitory orders in the district under Section 144 to maintain law and order and have also ordered sealing of the district's borders after a furore over the recent death of a Dalit gangrape victim in a Delhi hospital.
Uttar Pradesh Police have stopped the convoy of Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi en route to Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras to meet the family members of the Dalit gangrape victim who died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday.
The two leaders, accompanied by Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, were stopped near Greater Noida by UP Police, reported NDTV. They have now started marching towards their destination, about 142 kms from where they were stopped, it said.
योगी जी अपराधियों को रोकिए।
न्याय के कारवां को नहीं। pic.twitter.com/QQ1sA1Hv5d
— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) October 1, 2020
Meanwhile, UP Congress tweeted: “Yogi ji, stop the criminals, not the caravan of justice.”
The administration in Hathras had earlier imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 to maintain law and order and also ordered sealing of its district’s borders after a furore over the Dalit gangrape victim’s death, after which many leaders had been visiting the district.
“Section 144 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure) has been imposed in the district. It will be in force till October 31,” said District Magistrate PK Lakshkar on Thursday (October 1).
Related news: Hathras case: NCW to seek explanation from UP cops on 2.30 am cremation
The convoy of the Gandhis was stopped near Pari Chowk, prompting the party workers and senior leaders to proceed on foot, with some functionaries saying that they will walk down to Hathras.
“Around the same time last year, we were fighting for the Unnao daughter and the situation in UP has not changed in a year,” Priyanka Gandhi told reporters as she started walking on the expressway. “UP government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath must take responsibility for women safety in the state and ensure atrocities against them are stopped.”
The 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras on September 14 and referred to Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital on Monday with spinal cord injuries, paralysis and cuts in her tongue. She died around 3 am on Tuesday and was cremated in the early hours of Wednesday, with her family alleging the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night.
Various organisations and political parties have made it an issue and their leaders have either visited or are trying to reach the victim’s village.