Hathras village borders reopened after two days, reporters allowed to enter

Two days after a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras was sealed amid outrage over the death of a 20-year old woman who was gang raped and tortured, the borders were re-opened on Saturday and reporters were allowed to enter.

However senior officials said that political leaders will not be permitted. The official said that the curbs were put in place only to maintain law and order.

In the last two days several opposition leaders have been stopped from entering the village even amid massive protests.

The family of the victim had alleged that they were not being allowed to come out of their homes. The police official dismissed the allegations saying that they are baseless.

On October 1, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were stopped dramatically by the police, when they were leading a march into the village.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien, along with several other party leaders , said they were manhandled by the UP police when they tried to enter the victim’s village.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will make another attempt this afternoon to meet the family of the 20-year-old. “Nothing in the world can stop me from going to Hathras to meet this unhappy family to share their pain,” Mr Gandhi tweeted this morning.