Amid the ongoing controversy over the local administration’s handling of the alleged gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, the Director-General of Uttar Pradesh Police, HC Awasthy, will visit the place today. Awasthy will be accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi.

Yesterday five policemen, including the Superintendent of Police, were suspended from Hathras district as the BJP government in the state tries to suppress all the criticism coming its way. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed his government was “committed to the safety and security of women”.

The family of the young woman from Hathras has, however, alleged multiple lapses from the police and government throughout the case. The police also triggered outrage after rushing to cremate the body at 2.30 am, after allegedly locking up the family in their homes.

Police have also been criticised for manhandling of opposition leaders looking to speak to the young woman’s family. Earlier this week both Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and the Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien were shoved to the ground by UP cops as they tried to reach Hathras.

Gandhi is set to make another attempt this afternoon, but cops have already set up a barricade along the highway that connects Delhi to Noida in UP.

Meanwhile, Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to allow politicians and media personnel meet the family members of the Dalit women who was allegedly gangraped in Hathras and later succumbed to her injuries in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital.

“You must have known that I am admitted to the Corona ward of AIIMS after I was found Covid positive. Today is my 7th day here. I have not been able to meet anyone. I was not present at the hearing of special CBI court on Babri Masjid case. I have not spoken to anyone on telephone as well. But I have been following television news,” the senior BJP leader wrote.