Hathras Case: Yogi Govt Says ‘Conspiracy’ to Defame It, Files FIR
The case has been filed on charges of sedition, promoting enmity between different groups, among others.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday, 4 October, registered a case alleging “conspiracy” in the Hathras case to cause caste-based and communal riots, defame Yogi government, mislead the family of the victim, spread rumours and post provocative, false and insensitive posts on social media, reported Economic Times’ Aman Sharma.
Sharing a photograph of the First Information Report, the Economic Times journalist informed, on Twitter, that the case has been filed “on charges of sedition, promoting enmity between different groups, acts to disturb harmony, assertions prejudicial to national-integration, intent to incite and under Section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) ACT.”
The FIR, as is evident from the image shared on Twitter, was filed in the Chandpa Police Station in Hathras.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath on Monday accused BJP’s political opponents of attempting to conspire against it by trying to lay a foundation for caste and communal riots through international funding.
“For last one week, Opposition parties were keen to see riots. We need to move forward amidst all these conspiracies,” reported news agency ANI.
UP chief minister further added that the BJP workers need to dedicate themselves for the country's development.
“Anti-social and anti-nation elements find it difficult to accept the state's development as they always wanted a riot-stricken Uttar Pradesh. So they are hatching conspiracies now,” said Adityanath.
‘Clarification Note’
Before this, on 1 October, a “clarification note” shared by Mumbai-based public relations firm Concept Public Relations on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government in the case of the alleged gang-rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Hathras was doing the rounds on Twitter.
The press note reiterated the UP government’s claims and said that the “girl in the Hathras case was not raped” and claimed that there was a conspiracy to push the state into a caste turmoil.
The PR agency’s note came on 1 October, one day after the body of the victim was cremated, which the victim’s family allege was done ‘forcibly’ by the UP police.
Background
The Hathras case has sparked massive outrage on social media and people have hit the streets to protest. Several Opposition leaders were roughed up while trying to enter Hathras.
The UP CM has ordered a CBI probe into the matter on Saturday. The SIT had earlier filed its report after a two-day investigation in the village. Five policemen, including the Superintendent of Police of Hathras district, were suspended based on the report. The SIT has also recommended a polygraph and narco test of all parties involved – accused, victim’s kin and the suspended policemen.
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