Priyanka Gandhi condemns police brutality in Muzaffarnagar, says Congress will help victims

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday made an unscheduled visit to the western Uttar Pradesh town of Muzaffarnagar to meet the families of those who bore the brunt of the recent violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

The Congress general secretary visited the residences of some of those who were injured in the violence during the widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"I will stand with you in this hour of distress," she told one of them.

She met the victim of police violence Ruqaiya Parveen whose wedding is scheduled for February 4. The police allegedly ransacked her house too. No MLC has been conducted on her injuries so far.

The Congress leader also met Maulana Asad Raza Hussaini in Muzaffarnagar who was allegedly beaten up brutally by the police during the crackdown against anti-CAA protests.

She was accompanied by Imran Masood, the party leader from Saharanpur.

Later she told media persons that people were beaten up mercilessly and even children and minors were not spared. A 22-year-old woman, who was seven-month pregnant, was also beaten up, she claimed.

Priyanka said she has highlighted each and every "police excess" in her lengthy memorandum to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel during her previous visit to the state.

After Priyanka’s meeting Maulana Asad Raza, his son Mohammad Hussaini said that Priyanka Ji's support has given him a lot of courage. He was also unhappy with the attitude of the local leaders who could not raise their voice against the oppression of his family while Priyanka Gandhi came to meet them from Delhi.

She had visited Lucknow last week and met the kin of those injured or killed during the violent protests against the Act.

Earlier, she had gone to Bijnour and met the families of those killed in the violent clashes there. But she was not allowed to visit Meerut.

Officials maintain that 19 people were killed in the state during violent clashes.

With inputs from agencies