Hathras case: Protests rumble in India over alleged gang-rape of young woman

Galvanised by the alleged gang-rape of a young woman who died of her injuries earlier this week, political parties representing India's downtrodden Dalit community held small protests in several cities on Friday. | Above: People sits on a protest against UP government over hathras gang rape victim, at Jantar Mantra in New Delhi on Friday.

In Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the capital of the state where the crime took place, police baton-charged more than 100 activists from the Samajwadi Party, who held placards demanding justice for the dead woman. Later in the day, the Bhim Army, a party championing Dalit rights, plans a protest at the historic Jantar Mantar monument in central Delhi. | Above: Police personnel beefed up at Hathras border, in Lucknow on Friday.

The family of the dead woman has accused four high caste Hindu men, who have been arrested but not charged by police. Caste still plays an influential role in the politics of Uttar Pradesh, where the current state government is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. | Above: Samajwadi party workers being detained by police personnel during the protest against the Yogi Government, in Lucknow on Friday.

While the family say the woman died as the result of a brutal sexual assault, senior state police officer Prashant Kumar told ANI News on Thursday the woman died due to a neck injury. "No sperm was found in samples," said Kumar. Bhuri Singh, the uncle of the victim, said her "dying declaration said she was raped". | Above: A TMC delegation, including Derek O'Brien being stopped by police personnel at Hathras border while their way to meet the family of the victim of the Hathras incident, in Hathras.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said that gross injustice was done to the alleged Hathras gangrape victim and is being done to her family. "I want to say that every woman and man in this country needs to raise their voice against the injustice done to the girl (Hathras victim) and whatever has been happening to her family in the last three-four days," the Congress leader said while addressing a prayer meet for the victim of Hathras incident at Maharishi Valmiki Temple in the national capital.

"The government did not help. Her family is feeling alienated. I came here when I heard the Valmiki community had organised a prayer meeting for her. I came here to show solidarity with her family. I want to urge all to please raise their voice and put pressure on the government. Justice should be done to our sister," she added.

On Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi tried to visit Hathras to meet the victim's family. However, they were stopped midway and a case was registered against them.

Members of Students Federation of India (SFI) during a protest against the death of a 19-year-old Dalit woman who was allegedly gang-raped in Hathras, in Kolkata, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020

Samajwadi Party workers sit on Silent protest against UP government for increasing rape cases in Uttar Pradesh, at Jantar Mantra in New Delhi on Friday.

Shiv Sena party supporters shout slogans during a protest against the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of Hathras victim, outside Churchgate Station in Mumbai, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020.