SIT Probe Complete; Media Allowed to Enter Hathras: SDM Prakash
Neither journalists nor politicians were allowed to meet the Hathras victim’s family.
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A day after videos of the Dalit gang-rape victim’s family being intimidated and confined to their homes in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras village surfaced, Sadar SDM Prem Prakash rubbished all claims about the family being confined to their homes and their phones being taken away. He also stated that the restriction on media to enter the village has been lifted, as the SIT investigation in the case has been completed.
According to an ANI report, Prakash said, “Since the SIT probe in the village is complete, the restriction on media has been lifted. More than five media persons are now allowed to gather as Section 144 of CrPC is in place.”
“Only the media is allowed right now. When orders come in to allow delegations, we will let everybody know. All allegations about phones of the family members being taken away or confining them to their homes are absolutely baseless,” he added.
Family of the Victim Confined to Their Homes
A day after a video of Hathras District Magistrate purportedly trying to intimidate the family of the Dalit victim’s family went viral, another video surfaced of a young kid who claimed to be the girl’s family member, alleging that the Uttar Pradesh police is not letting the family leave the house or even use the washroom.
The victim’s brother, who had spoken to The Quint earlier identified the kid as one of their cousins. In the video, the kid is heard saying that the police has barricaded their house and entire village, and he escaped through the fields because he wanted to let the journalists know that the family wants to speak with them. He also claimed that the mobile phones of the family members have been taken away by the police.
Journalists Stopped from Entering the Village
When The Quint tried to reach the family members, their phones were switched off. Several journalists on the ground took to social media to report that they were not being allowed to enter the village since Thursday, 1 October.
Congress Leaders Detained
On Friday, 2 October, a delegation of TMC MPs including Derek O’Brien were stopped from going to the village and pushed to the ground by the police after an altercation, as can be seen from several videos. This comes a day after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were detained while they were on their way to Hathras to meet the victim’s family.
The police has so far no made any official comment on the allegations of the family being stopped from leaving their home. The Quint has reached out to the Uttar Pradesh ADGP and Hathras DM for clarifications. The story will be updated as and when they respond.
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