Hathras gang rape case: Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi meet victim’s family after high drama

Lucknow, Oct 03: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who were detained amid high drama on Thursday, along with three others, met the bereaved family of the 19-year-old girl, who was brutally assaulted and murdered.

Uttar Pradesh authorities had scuttled an earlier attempt by the two leaders to travel to Hathras, detaining them and several party workers in Greater Noida outside Delhi.

On Saturday, the party staged another show of strength at the Delhi-Noida border. The UP Police said they will allow five party party representatives to meet the family in the village in Hathras district.

Notably, Priyanka Gandhi on Friday attended a prayer meet at the Maharishi Valmiki temple in Delhi in memory of the victim.

"When I came to know that you all have kept a prayer meeting here, I came so that the family does not feel that they are alone. Every woman in the country should raise their voice, the people from the media are here, they should pressurize the government, we will create political pressure. Her family did not even get a chance to perform the final rites of the girl in dignity. This is inhumanity," said Priyanka.

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.

Meanwhile, UP CM Yogi Adityanath suspended the Superintendent of Police and four other policemen for alleged dereliction of duty in the events that led to the death of a 19-year-old woman.

The state police is accused by the family of forcing the cremation of the woman in the late night.

District officials contended that they had consent from the woman's family, but the manner in which the developments took place raised questions over the conduct of the administration and law enforcement.