Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi along with K C Venugopal and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have reached Hathras. Large scale security has been deployed near the house of the victim as well as a huge crowd has gathered. Currently, the Gandhis are meeting the family.
In a sudden move, the barricades were removed, which were put to debar the entry of media and other opposition leaders from meeting the victim’s family. Joint Magistrate Mr Meena said that the blockade was meant to let the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probe the matter properly without any hindrance.
Mr Meena and heavy media are also present at the scene.
The woman succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of Tuesday in a Delhi hospital, a fortnight after she was attacked, and cremated in the dead of night near her home on Wednesday. Her family had alleged they were forced by the local police to conduct her last rites in hurry. This had triggered outrage nationwide and protests in several places.
Earlier today, Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani accused the opposition of politicising the issue. Addressing a press conference, she said, “The victim will get justice. have spoken to the CM Yogi Adityanath. Once the SIT submits its report, he will take action against the accused.”
A group of Congress workers in Varanasi had blocked the Union minister Smriti Irani’s vehicle. Congress spokesperson Lalan Kumar said that protesting party workers, who were raising anti-government slogans and demanding justice for the woman’s family, were arrested.