Hathras case Live Updates: Decision to cremate gangrape victim in dead of night was of DM and SP, says UP DGP

3-October-2020

The outrage over Hathras gangrape and murder case of a 19-year-old girl is getting more intense day by day as protests, anger against Uttar Pradesh administraton over handling the case has been questioned by activists and opposition. The Hathras town, where the 19-year-old girl went through a brutal horror has been turned into a fortress amid presence of heavy police force. Meanwhile, opposition and activists have been slamming the Yogi government over the hurried cremation of the gangrape victim.

Hathras gangrape and murder case
Even after a permission was given to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit Hathras, several other Congress leaders present in heavy numbers at Delhi-Noida flyway were lathi charged by police for protesting and trying to leave for Hathras even after the administration denied the permission. The UP Police has only allowed Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and 5 others to visit Hathras.

UP DGP Hitesh Chandra Awasthi has said that the decision of performing last rites of the gangape victim in the dead of night did not come from Lucknow. It was a decision that was taken by Hathras DM and SP.

Amid outrage over Hathras gangrape and murder case, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday were allowed to go to Hathras to meet gangrape victim's family. It was a second attempt by top Congress leaders to visit Hathras. Though both the leaders along with other MPs and supporters were earlier stopped at Delhi-Noida flyway but were allowed later by the administration to visit the village. In total, Rahul Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with 5 others have been allowed to visit Hathras village.

What is Hathras gangrape and murder case?
According to the family, the woman was gangraped in a brutal assault on September 14 that left her with severe injuries. She died at Delhi's Safdarjung hospital on Tuesday. What followed next only fueled the matter and raised doubts over the role of the police. The girl was cremated in the middle of the night with family members claiming that police ignored their pleas to bring the body home one last time.

Action so far on Hathras case
Amid a nationwide outrage, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday suspended the Hathras SP and four other police officers over their handling of the gangrape-murder case. Also, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been appointed to probe the case.