Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi arrested while on way to meet gang rape victim's family

India’s main opposition Congress party’s leader Rahul Gandhi was arrested after being stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi, as they were on their way to meet the family of a 20-year-old Dalit woman who was gangraped by four men.

The woman died in a hospital in Delhi earlier this week.

Rahul alleged that the police pushed him and baton charged him, following which he fell to the ground.

“I want to walk to Hathras alone,” Gandhi tells the police. “Please tell me under which section are you arresting me.”

In response, a police officer says: “We are arresting you under Section 188 IPC [Indian Penal Code] for violation of an order.”

Rahul Gandhi claims that he was pushed and baton charged by the police, following which he fell down, ANI reports.

"Violence is the weapon of the weak, non-violence that of the strong."

- Mahatma Gandhi #JusticeForIndiasDaughters pic.twitter.com/Epy5cDUoCC

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 1, 2020

“Can only BJP and RSS people roam around in this country?” he asks. “Can an ordinary citizen not do so? Can only (India’s Prime Minister Narendra) Modi do it.”

The police have imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Hathras, and sealed the borders of the district.

A Special Investigation Team will meet the woman’s family later in the day, and media would not be allowed.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar criticizes Rahul Gandhi’s arrest.

“Under what law has he been detained?” he asks. “Why are he and Priyanka Gandhi not being allowed to meet victim’s family? Why is the PM not speaking about ‘Beti Bachao’ now?”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacks the UP government over the woman’s death and hurried cremation.

“Have no words to condemn the barbaric and shameful incident at Hathras involving a young Dalit girl,” she tweets.

“My deepest condolences to the family. More shameful is the forceful cremation without the family’s presence or consent, exposing those who use slogans and lofty promises for votes.”

Additional Director General of Police Prashant Kumar says the woman’s postmortem report showed that she died of neck injuries, ANI reports. He also denies that the woman was raped, citing a forensic science laboratory report.