The decision to cremate the 19-year-old Hathras victim was taken by the local administration, said Uttar Pradesh DGP HC Awasthy on Saturday.
The decision to cremate the 19-year-old Hathras victim who died on Tuesday, a fortnight after she was allegedly gang-raped by four men, was taken by the local administration, said Uttar Pradesh DGP HC Awasthy on Saturday.
Awasthy was commenting on the allegations that Uttar Pradesh Police forcibly cremated the victim without the consent of her family. "I can't comment on it. The decision was taken at the local administration level," said DGP HC Awasthy.
Earlier in the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avnish Awasthi and DGP HC Awasthy met the family of the victim. "We met the family of the victim and assured them that stringent action will be taken against the guilty. SIT is investigating the case. Statements of the family members are being recorded," ACS Home Avnish said.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry, Mukul Wasnik and KC Venugopal went to meet the family of the victim after getting permission from the administration.
Party leader Randeep Surjewala told reporters that they want justice for the victim and the resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Earlier, dramatic scenes erupted at the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway after the police resorted to mild lathi charge over hundreds of Congress workers, compelling party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to come out and shield a party worker who was being baton-charged by police personnel.
The UP Police resorted to lathi charge after the Congress workers refused to leave the DND flyway even after five Congress leaders were allowed to visit Hathras to meet the family members of the victim.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, after holding talks with police officials, climbed on the rooftop of his car to announce that five Congress leaders had been allowed to visit Hathras to meet the victim`s family.
But his request did not change the sentiments of party workers, who wanted to accompany him to Hathras. After the vehicle in which Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka were travelling reached the toll area of the DND, the police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the massive crowd.
Several Congress workers were injured in the sudden lathi charge.
Delhi Congress chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar and Women`s Congress chief Sushmita Deb led the procession on the DND.
The UP government has formed an SIT to probe the Hathras incident and has said that the matter will be heard in the fast track court.
The 19-year-old woman died at Delhi's Safdarjung hospital on September 29. All the four accused in the incident have been arrested.
An uproar has erupted over the incident with the opposition also raising questions over the manner in which the last rites of the victim were performed. The police had said that the consent of the family was taken for cremation.
(With inputs from agencies)
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 "Uttar Pradesh DGP HC Awasthy")
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