Hathras sealed amid outrage, police claim victim not raped

Hathras (UP), October 1

A day after a Dalit gangrape victim from Hathras, who had died at a Delhi hospital on Tuesday, was cremated, the administration today imposed prohibitory orders in the district and sealed its borders.

Edit: Daughters unsafe

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“Section 144 (of the CrPC) has been imposed in the district till October 31,” District Magistrate PK Lakshkar said. The decision was taken to maintain order as various outfits and political parties had made it an issue and their leaders had either visited or were trying to reach the victim’s village, said an official.

Another dalit rape victim dies in UP

Balrampur: A Dalit woman (22) died after allegedly being raped by two men in UP’s Balrampur district, succumbing to injuries on the same day as the Hathras victim. The victim's mother alleged the rapists broke her daughter's legs and back, a charge denied by police.

Replace CM or impose President rule: Mayawati

Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati has demanded that CM Yogi Adityanath be replaced or the President's rule imposed in the state. She said Hathras and Balrampur gangrape and deaths were reminiscent of the 2012 Nirbhaya case. PTI

Amid the outrage, ADGP Prashant Kumar claimed the woman was not raped. Citing a forensic report, the police officer said, “The cause of her death was an injury on the neck and trauma related to it.”

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and around 150 of their party workers were briefly detained in Greater Noida for alleged violation of prohibitory orders while walking towards Hathras to meet the victim’s family. Rahul also fell down in the scuffle after police tried to stop him from proceeding on the Yamuna Expressway. Pictures of the incident were shared by the party.

Taking suo motu cognizance, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has summoned top government officials on October 12 to explain the case.

The victim’s family has demanded a CBI probe into the matter, alleging they were being pressured by the district administration against “repeatedly changing” their statement.

The victim’s father claimed he was “pressured” into going to a police station where the district magistrate and police officials made three members of his family sign some document.

“My daughter’s case should be probed by the CBI and monitored by a Supreme Court judge. We are under pressure from officials and confined to our home while the media has also been disallowed from meeting us,” he said in a purported video shared by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Twitter.

The development came as a video surfaced purportedly showing Hathras District Magistrate Praveen Kumar Laxkar meeting the family at their home, where he allegedly asked the woman’s father to “reconsider” if he wants to stick with the statement or change it.

“You should not destroy your credibility. About the media, I must tell you, half of them have left today… the other half would leave by tomorrow morning... two or four more days, maybe. Only we are standing by your side. Now, it is up to you whether you want to change your statement repeatedly or not,” DM Laxkar is purportedly heard telling the victim’s father in the video. — PTI

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