Stones were thrown at police in Agra when protesting against members of the Valmiki community
Agra:
Clashes briefly broke out in Agra of Uttar Pradesh earlier today when members of the Valmiki community clashed with police over the alleged gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman from the state district of Hathras last month.
Footage from the clash showed angry protesters throwing stones at police and shouting slogans, while dozens of policemen, equipped with riot gear and lathis, tried to restore order. The violence has been contained for now, but there are still significant police forces deployed in the area.
Protesting members of the Valmiki community have also announced a boycott of clean-up work across the city. The images showed piles of debris and garbage alongside busy roads.
The young woman, who died Tuesday at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, suffered fractures, paralysis and a spinal injury after a savage assault by four men from the so-called upper castes. Police said he also had a cut on his tongue; she had bitten him while they were strangling her.
Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is scheduled to make a second attempt to travel to Hathras today, attended a prayer meeting at the Valmiki Temple in Delhi yesterday.
Ms Gandhi Vadra, who has held UP Senior Minister Yogi Adityanath responsible for the tragedy, said she would “guarantee justice for (her) sister.”
His first attempt, with brother Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, was stopped by UP police, who was caught on camera mistreating the Lok Sabha MP and pushing him to the ground.
The footage showed Agra police in riot gear marching through the streets wielding lathis
Earlier, Gandhi lashed out at the UP government, highlighting the caste angle and calling the Hathras tragedy a “shameful move … to crack down on the Dalits and show them their ‘place’ in society.”
Bhim’s army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reminding him that he was elected to parliament by the same state that so brutally murdered a Dalit woman.
UP Police and the government have been severely criticized for their handling of the case. The Allahabad High Court summoned senior officials on October 12, citing “allegations of arrogance by the authorities that resulted in a violation of basic fundamental and human rights.”
After the wave of criticism, UP DGP HC Awasthy and Additional Chief Secretary (Interior) Awanish Awasthi are expected to visit Hathras today, the first of these high-ranking officials.
The family of the young woman from Hathras has reported multiple lapses throughout the case. They have also accused officials of locking them in their homes and taking away their phones.
However, Hathras Joint Magistrate Prem Prakash Meena dismissed those allegations today, telling NDTV: “The allegations of a child who spoke to some reporters on Friday are unfounded. If a child can escape, it shows that there were no restrictions for the family. No phones were confiscated. “
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who faces calls to resign, said yesterday that his government was committed to the safety of women in the state.
The shocking attack has drawn parallels to the 2012 gang rape in Delhi and sparked furious protests across the country. In a protest held at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded the execution of the four defendants.
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