Hathras horror: Rahul Gandhi arrested by UP police; had alleged they 'lathicharged' him

UPDATE: Rahul Gandhi arrested by UP police

On being stopped by UP police,  when Rahul Gandhi insisted on proceeding on foot to Hathras, UP police have arrested him under section 188 - claiming he violated section 144 imposed in the district. Gandhi argued he wished to proceed on foot alone, but police inisted on arresting him and his sister Priyanka Gandhi.

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After being stopped at the Uttar Pradesh border, the Gandhi siblings - Rahul and Priyanka on Thursday, have begun to proceed towards Hathras on foot, protesting the brutal rape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman. Enroute to Hathras, Gandhis along with Congress workers were stopped by UP police as the district administration has sealed the borders. Speaking to the media, the Wayanad MP alleged that police pushed him, lathicharged him, adding that BJP leaders were allowed to pass.

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Rahul Gandhi: 'Police lathicharged me'

Hathras horror: Priyanka & Rahul Gandhi stopped at border enroute Congress protest in UP

Gandhis stopped at Hathras border

Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi shared pictures of Congress workers hurt in the scuffle with the police. While the Gandhis have pressed on proceeding on foot, Noida ADCP Ranvijay Singh said, "We have stopped them here as the Epidemic Act is being violated. We will not allow them to proceed forward".

Hathras rape case

A 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras on September 14 in a field, leaving her in a critical condition. When her condition worsened, she was referred to AIIMS but was admitted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi on Monday with spinal cord injuries, paralysis and cuts in her tongue. She died around 3 am on Tuesday, but her autopsy report has no mention of rape. Reports state that initially, the police had refused to add rape charges to the FIR against the accused, claiming that there were no injuries on private parts of the victim. This led to a massive protest by dalits, political parties alike.

Hathras rape: Aligarh medical college principal says victim was referred to AIIMS, not Safdarjung hospital

The case took an ugly turn when UP police cremated the victim's body at 2:30 AM on Wednesday allegedly without the family's consent.  However, Uttar Pradesh ADG Prashant Kumar stated that the funeral was conducted with the consent of the family. The force has been pulled up by the NCW for this 'hurried cremation'.

Hathras Gangrape: UP ADG says funeral of victim was conducted with family's consent

Yogi govt forms SIT to fast-track the case

Meanwhile, the UP CM on Wednesday said that a three-member SIT has been set up to investigate the Hathras gangrape incident . The team which will send a report within 7 days, comprises of state Home Secretary Bhagwan Swarup and members of Dalit community and women. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh and a house along with a government job to one family member, with the CM speaking to the family via video-link assuring the deceased's father  of stringent action against the accused.