Hathras victim’s kin to appear before HC amid heavy security

The family of the 19-year-old woman who was gang-raped in Hathras is slated to appear before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday (October 12).

The family which left for Lucknow on Monday morning amid heavy police security has been accompanied by the district magistrate and superintendent of police.

“I am going with them. Proper security arrangements have been made. District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) is also accompanying us,” sub-divisional magistrate Anjali Gangwar, told ANI.

The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday had made security arrangements for the safe travel of the family.

Family members of #Hathras alleged gang-rape victim leave for Lucknow.

They will appear before Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court later in the day. pic.twitter.com/Slu1k5GUmW

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 12, 2020

 “There is sufficient security for the victim’s family. The local police is in touch with the family and nearby villages. Officials have been conducting peace meeting in the nearby villages and appealed to them not to pay attention to the rumours,” senior police officer Vineet Jaiswal told ANI on Sunday.

Related news: CBI takes over probe into Hathras gang-rape case

Taking suo moto cognizance of the case, the high court had summoned Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary, state police chief, additional director general of police as well as the Hathras district magistrate and superintendent of police to appear before it, following huge public outcry over the victim’s death and cremation.

Expressing discontentment over the late night cremation of the victim by the police, the court had also asked the family of the victim to be present to give a version of their account of the case.

The 19-year-old woman breathed her last in a Delhi hospital, two weeks after being gang-raped allegedly by four upper caste men of her village.

Related news: After Hathras, Centre issues SOP to states, UTs for procedure for rape cases

While the police, quoting forensic reports, have ruled out rape, experts have questioned the validity of the report, samples for which were taken 11 days after the incident.