Congress accuses UP cops of manhandling Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was arrested from Hargaon in Sitapur district while she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri where violence had reportedly claimed eight lives on Sunday.

Priyanka Gandhi's convoy was stopped in Lucknow and the police surrounded the Kaul House where she stays during her Lucknow visits.

However, Priyanka managed to hoodwink the cops and walked out of her residence form the side gate and after a short distance, she got into a waiting car and left for Lakhimpur Kheri with Congress leader Deependra Singh Hooda at the wheel.

As soon as Priyanka reached Hargaon in Sitapur district around 6 a.m. on Monday, she was stopped. After a minor scuffle with women constable, Priyanka demanded to see her arrest warrant.

Congress' youth wing national president Srinivas BV tweeted a video of the incident.

"I am not committing a crime by stepping out of the house. I just want to meet the affected families and share their grief. What wrong am I committing? And if I have done something wrong, then you (UP Police) should have an order, a warrant. You (UP Police) are stopping me, my car, but for what reason?" Priyanka Gandhi can be heard as saying in the video.

Police personnel then took her into custody and brought her to the PAC office.

Leaders of the Congress, who accompanied Priyanka, protested her arrest by staging a dharna.

Rahul Gandhi also tweeted in support of sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

"Priyanka, I know you won't back away - they are stunned by your courage. In this non-violent fight for justice, we will make the country's Annadata win," tweeted Rahul Gandhi in Hindi, adding the #NoFear.