UP top cop to visit Hathras amid outrage over curbs following victim's death

Director-General of Uttar Pradesh Police H.C. Awasthy will visit Hathras on Saturday (October 3) amid controversy over the local administration’s handling of the alleged gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman by four men last month.

Awasthy will be accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi.

His visit follows mounting criticism of the Yogi Adityanath government over the Hathras tragedy and similarly crimes against women.

The visit also comes a day after the High Court summoned top officials on October 12. The court said the matter was of “immense public importance… involves allegation of high-handedness by authorities resulting in violation of basic human and fundamental rights”.

On Friday (October 2), five policemen, including the Superintendent of Police, were suspended as the BJP government in the state tried to stave off criticism. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed his government would ensure exemplary punishment to the culprits.

The family of the young woman from Hathras has alleged lapses from the police and government throughout the case. The police triggered outrage after rushing to cremate the body late at night after allegedly locking up the family in their homes.

Related news: Only reporters can visit Hathras village, rules Joint Magistrate

The family has also accused district officials of taking away their phones. Hathras Joint Magistrate Prem Prakash Meena dismissed those allegations. “The allegations are baseless… If a child can escape, it shows there were no restrictions on the family. No phones were confiscated”.

The Uttar Pradesh police had cordoned off the village and have set up barricades all along the routes leading to up the village and deployed policemen even on the dirt tracks to prevent “outsiders” from accessing the village. A villager said the police are also camping outside the toilets of the victim’s house.

The Joint Magistrate said politicians would still be prevented from visiting the village and cited prohibitory orders in place in the area.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka are scheduled to visit the family – their second attempt – on October 3.