PremiumNEW DELHI : Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi's convoy was reportedly stopped on the Yamuna Expressway by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday as they were headed to meet the family of the victim of alleged gangrape and murder in the Hathras.
According to sources, Priyanka and Rahul's SUV had crossed the border, but their convoy was stopped at Greater Noida, which is about 142 km to Hathras. Following this, Rahul and Priyanka moved out of their vehicle and started on a foot-march towards Hathras on the highway between Delhi and UP along with scores of Congress workers as visuals show.
However, minutes later, the Gandhis faced a large group of UP police who allegedly tried to push them back.
Police pushed me, claims Rahul Gandhi
On clash with cops, Rahul Gandhi told ANI, “Just now police pushed me, lathicharged me and threw me to the ground. I want to ask, can only Modi Ji walk in this country? Can't a normal person walk? Our vehicle was stopped, so we started walking."
The Uttar Pradesh administration today enforced a ban on large gatherings and put up barricades at the Delhi-UP borders, citing the novel coronavirus pandemic.
As visuals show, dozens of reporters and people were seen clicking photos of the two leaders as they got off their vehicle and started walking with the Congress workers.
As per reports, since 1 October morning, the media has been barred from the woman's village.
The reason behind this, as UP officers tell a news agency, is that tight restrictions are in place since 1 September and has been extended to 31 October in view of Covid-19. A top official also claimed that several policemen had shown symptoms of coronavirus.
Prohibitory orders imposed in Hathras
The Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has imposed prohibitory orders in Hathras. "Section 144 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure) has been imposed in the district. It will be in force till October 31," District Magistrate PK Lakshkar said today. The administration has also ordered to seal the borders of Hathras district.
Massive protests have erupted in Hathras today. The Samajwadi Party workers are also protesting in the district and demanding the resignation of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Hathras horror
A 20-year-old woman died on Tuesday at a hospital in the national capital after she suffered multiple fractures, paralysis and severe spinal injury following a sexual assault by four upper caste men on 14 September.
Reports also say that there was a gash in the victim's tongue as she had bitten it when the men were trying to strangle her.
The victim's family alleged the local police had forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night. Her body was cremated at 2.30 am with only a few policemen around, as the visuals showed.
