Lucknow : Launching a scathing attack on the police, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today said during the recent protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), cops did exactly the opposite of what was expected out of them.
During her visit to Muzaffarnagar and Meerut, she met families of the deceased and victims of “police brutality” during the anti-CAA protests on December 20.
Speaking to reporters, she reiterated the demands made in her letter to Governor Anandiben Patel — to instruct the Home Department and the UP DGP to immediately stop the violent repression by the police.
She has also demanded an impartial probe by a sitting or retired High Court judge so that the truth regarding atrocities could emerge.
Demanding an immediate end to the attachment of properties of victims, the Congress leader also demanded withdrawal of criminal cases against peacefully protesting students and citizens. “The police had beaten up people without any reason. If someone has done something wrong, then the police should take action, no one will object. But here, the police forcibly entered houses and beat up people,” said Priyanka.
Promising to stand by the victims of “police brutality”, Priyanka also assured all possible help to them.
In Paratpur town of Meerut, she interacted with the families of the five persons who were killed during the protests. Relatives of Mohammad Alim, a waiter, told Priyanka that he was returning home when he was shot dead by the police.
In Muzaffarnagar, she was accompanied by former MLAs Imran Masood and Pankaj Malik. She met the family of 25-year-old driver and manual labourer from Khalapar, Noor Mohammad, who was shot near Meenakshi Chowk during the December 20 violence.
“The condition of the family is very painful. His wife is seven months pregnant and has a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter,” said Priyanka.
Earlier, a Congress delegation had given a token amount of Rs 1 lakh to the family. She also met Maulana Asad Raza Hussaini, head of a madrassa. The police had forcibly entered the madrassa and hostel and beaten up students. “The maulana’s hand is fractured and he has bruises all over his body. He told me that around 50 policemen had forcibly entered the hostel and thrashed the students. They had put the children in jail, some of whom were minors.”
The cleric told Priyanka that they had not spoken to the media as only four students had been released and 11 were still in police custody. (Agencies)
