Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Hathras on Wednesday to meet with the family of a 19-year-old Dalit woman who was gang-raped in September 2020. The victim succumbed to her injuries in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, sparking national outrage.
Gandhi arrived at the village around 11:30 a.m. and met the victim’s family after receiving clearance from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which had been deployed for their security. Local authorities were caught off guard by his visit, and further details about the meeting are yet to be disclosed.
The tragic incident occurred on September 14, 2020, when the young woman was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men. She passed away on September 29, 2020, and her family claims they were denied justice when the police delayed the FIR registration and hurried her cremation. The Uttar Pradesh government, facing criticism, recommended a CBI probe, which began on October 10, 2020.
The CBI charged the four men with rape, murder, and violations of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The trial against the accused commenced, but in March 2023, a local court acquitted three of the men, while the fourth was convicted of culpable homicide, not murder.
The victim’s family is still awaiting justice and fulfillment of promises, including a house away from Hathras and a job, which were made to them following the case.
