Hathras gang-rape case: UP CM Yogi Adityanath recommends CBI probe; Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi meet victim's kin

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath has recommended the CBI investigation into Hathras gang-rape and murder case, the Chief Minister's office stated on Saturday (October 3). CM Adityanath also said that his government was determined to ensure the harshest punishment for those guilty in the entire incident.

The decision came after a high-level meeting of concerned officials on Saturday.

"Chief Minister @myogiadityanath Ji has ordered the CBI to conduct a probe into the entire Hathras case," the UP Chief Minister's office tweeted. Reacting to the announcement, family members of the rape victim stated that they want a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry, said a PTI report.

The announcement of the recommendation of the CBI comes into Hathras incident comes within hours of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi and DGP HC Awasthi meeting the victim's family at her home.

The alleged brutal gang-rape, murder and forcible cremation by the police of a 19-year-old girl sparked furious protests and demonstration against the police and the Uttar Pradesh government across the country. On Friday, several political leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal staged demonstration in the national capital and demanded that the four accused in the case be executed.

Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi allowed to visit Hathras, meet victim's family:

On Saturday, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi along with three other Congress leaders visited Hathras and met the victim's family members. 

After meeting the victim's family, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I met the Hathras victim's family and understood their pain. I assured them that we are standing with them in this difficult time and will provide all help in getting justice for them." "The UP government will not be able to act in an arbitrary way as the whole country is standing for ensuring justice to the daughter of the country," he said in the tweet in Hindi.

Priyanka Gandhi, who met and hugged the inconsolable mother of Hathras gang-rape victim, listed some of the demands and questions of the victim's family in a series of tweets. 

"Questions of Hathras victim's family -- 1. A judicial probe be conducted through the Supreme Court. 2. Hathras DM be suspended and not given a big post. Why our daughter's body was burnt using petrol without our permission.

"4. Why we are being repeatedly misled and threatened. 5. For humanity's sake, we brought 'chita se phool', but how do we believe that this dead body is that of our daughter?" Priyanka Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. In Hindu tradition bringing 'chita se phool' generally means collecting remains after cremation.

Police resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse Congress supporters on DND: 

While heading to Hathras, high drama unfolded in the national capital. There was heavy police deployment on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border with barricades on Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway and scores of policemen deployed.

As swarms of Congress workers and others jostled with each other amid loud honking, slogans and Congress flags fluttering in the air, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police finally allowed five people, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, to go to Hathras.

Congress workers, some who described what happened as brutal repression, claimed police used batons to disperse the crowd.

Protests intensity in Kolkata; Mamata Banerjee attacks BJP government in Uttar Pradesh:

Meanwhile, Left, Congress and Trinmool Congress workers protested in Kolkata on Saturday against the Hathras gang-rape incident that has triggered a nationwide outrage. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also took part in a protest in Kolkata, launched a scathing attack against the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, calling it the 'biggest pandemic' and running a 'dictatorship' in the country. 

"COVID-19 is not a big pandemic. BJP is the biggest pandemic. It is the biggest pandemic of atrocities against Dalit and backward communities. We should stand up against these atrocities ... The kind of atrocities that are taking place is completely unacceptable. The kisan samaj, youth, students, minorities, Dalits are being pushed towards darkness, but we will lead them towards the light," she stated.