Hathras: Yogi slaps sedition FIR on ‘unknown’ protesters

Tribune News Service

Hathras/New Delhi, October 5

Hours after CM Yogi Adityanath remarked that those averse to UP’s development were out to ignite riots using the Hathras tragedy, the state police registered an FIR against unknown people for a range of charges, including sedition, incitement of caste and communal violence and disturbance of peace. Eighteen more cases were also filed across the state.

Edit: Hathras mess

‘link to CAA stir hinted at’

• The FIR in Hathras lists 19 sections, cracking down on ‘Justice for Hathras’ website for ‘destabilising’ govt
• Link ‘between anti-CAA protests and Hathras plot’ suggested; role of Popular Front of India not ruled out

The FIR at the Chandpa police station in Hathras listed 19 sections and also invoked the Information Technology Act of 2000 to crack down on a website called “Justice for Hathras” which, cops alleged, was created to destabilise the state government by provoking riots.

The state police said the website was wrapped up overnight after raids by agencies but its “inflammatory material” was still in circulation on social media. The police suggested links “between anti-CAA protests and the Hathras plot”, not ruling out the role of the Popular Front of India in the matter.

The development came as the Congress demanded a judicial probe into the tragedy, saying the CBI and the SIT would be of no help because the evidence stood “destroyed”. AICC general secretary (UP) Priyanka Vadra has led the demand for a probe by a sitting SC judge into the death of the 19-year-old Dalit girl from Hathras who was allegedly gang-raped on September 14 and left to die with grievous injuries. She succumbed in a Delhi hospital on September 29 and was cremated by cops allegedly against the family’s consent in the wee hours of September 30.

“UP cops have already cremated the body of the victim and destroyed the evidence. What will the CBI and SIT do now? A judicial probe is a must and the DM of Hathras must be immediately removed for intimidating the victim’s family,” Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev said today.

In Hathras, a miscreant threw ink at the visiting AAP leader Sanjay Singh, calling him a “PFI agent”, while Gautam Buddh Nagar cops booked over 500 Congress workers for unlawful assembly on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border two days ago in violation of the Covid norms.

Political party leaders, meanwhile, continued to visit Hathras today to express solidarity with the victim’s family.

BSP chief Mayawati slammed the CM’s “arrogant attitude” and criticised the police for “manhandling” opposition leaders.

The Allahabad High Court has summoned top state officials in the case on October 12.