‘Lathicharged by cops’, says Rahul; Gandhis march stopped at Yamuna Expressway

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose march with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Hathras was stopped, alleged that the police lathicharged and pushed him to the ground. Gandhis had begun a march to Hathras after their cars were stopped by authorities. Later, both Rahul and Priyanka tweeted slamming the Uttar Pradesh government for trying to stop them.

Ahead of Gandhis visit, Section 144 has been imposed in the district and the borders have been sealed. Gandhis want to meet the family of the 19-year-old Dalit woman who died after allegedly being gang-raped and tortured by four upper-caste men in the Uttar Pradesh district. The victim’s family also alleged that the UP Police had cremated her forcibly without their permission.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Police also lathi-charged few Samajwadi Party workers on NH- 93. They were trying to reach the victim’s house.

In other development, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state’s police chief in connection with the Hathras rape. NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance in connection with the “gang rape and brutality of a 19-year-old women belonging to the Scheduled Caste in Hathras district”, the rights panel said in a statement.