New Delhi: Congress party, on Monday, demanded a Supreme Court-monitored enquiry in the Hathras gang rape and murder case, alleging that the members of Special Investigation Team (SIT) are acting as the "puppets" of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The SIT team led by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Bhagwan Swaroop is still continuing with its investigation even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been asked to take over.
While addressing a press conference, All India Mahila Congress Chief, Sushmita Dev said, "It is clear that from the date a young helpless girl was raped, that all institutions within the state of Uttar Pradesh, whether it is the SIT, are in cahoots to hush up this matter. It is shocking that SIT was set up after 14 days. CBI enquiry has been ordered but as of today they have not gone on the ground."
The report of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Agra, suggest that there were "no songs suggestive of intercourse", backing the state police's version that she was not raped. However, experts are questioning the report saying that the samples were collected 11 days after the assault.
Sushmita Dev further added, "This stands exposed of the puppets of Yogi Adityanath who have been put in the SIT. They are shameless to talk about what is harming Adityanath Government and not what happened to the 19-year old girl. There should be an SIT to investigate this current SIT."
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On Saturday, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited the family of Hathras gang-rape victim. After the meeting, Priyanka Gandhi shared the demands of the victim's family in her tweet, saying that the UP Government must answer them.
Reiterating the demands, Sushmita Dev said, "Firstly, family demands a Supreme Court-monitored judicial inquiry. Secondly, right now, although the government has announced CBI investigation, on the ground still as it is investigating. Why? we reiterate that judicial enquiry is the need of the hour as demanded by the family."
Congress also demanded an immediate suspension of Hathras DM who was caught on camera, asking the victim's family to soften their stance.
Amid the widespread outrage over the matter, the victim's family has also questioned if the "right" body was cremated by UP Police.
Congress is also holding a 'Satyagrah' across the country to demand justice for the Hathras victim, under which all the state units of the party will have a silent sit-in protest in front of a Gandhi Statue or Ambedkar Statue.
