Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi's attempt on Thursday to meet the victim's family was blocked by the Uttar Pradesh police who detained and escorted the Congress leaders back to Delhi. Rahul Gandhi was pushed to the ground in the chaos, following which the party held protests in Delhi. Demands for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s removal in the aftermath of the Hathras gang rape case have grown louder with Priyanka Gandhi saying suspending “some pawns” won’t make any difference.
Priyanka Gandhi said they were repeatedly stopped from going to Hathras on Thursday. "When we all started our march on foot with Rahul ji, we were repeatedly stopped and lathis were rained on us in a barbaric manner. Many workers were injured. But our intention is clear. "The sticks of an egotistical government cannot stop us. I wish these lathis were used by this police while standing in defence of Hathras's Dalit daughter," she said in a tweet in Hindi. In another tweet, she accused the Hathras DM of pressurising the victim's family.
ABP News team of reporters was also stopped from covering the incident and meeting the victim's family. ABP News' correspondent Pratima Mishra and Camerman Manoj Adhikari were manhandled by the UP police on Thursday. Both the media persons were forcefully taken into a Police vehicle and asked them not to report on the incident.
ABP News' team of reporters still stand tall on the ground and are asking questions on why media is being stopped from covering the incident. ABP News received massive support from all over the country as people came out of their houses and started candle march demanding justice for the victim and urging UP cops to allow ABP news and perform their duty.
In a massive impact of ABP News’ relentless coverage of the Hathras gangrape incident, several police officials who were found responsible for the mishandling of the case have been suspended.
Vikrant Veer, Superintendent of Police has been suspended today, and Shamli SP Vineet Jaiswal will take charge of Hathras district. "In the Hathras case, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed to suspend the SP, DSP, Inspector and some other officials, based on the preliminary investigation report," the Chief Minister's Office announced.
What happened to the Hathras victim?
The victim died at Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital on Tuesday, two weeks after she was attacked brutally while helping her mother in the fields. She had suffered multiple fractures, paralysis, and a gash in her tongue in the horrific assault. The woman’s family members said the police forcibly performed the last rites last night even though they wanted to bring her body home one last time and cremate her in the morning as per customs.