'Rumours Of Heckling, Strangulating Priyanka Gandhi Wrong': UP Police

The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday denied that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was manhandled by police personnel a day before in Lucknow while she was going to visit the family of a former IPS officer.

Lucknow Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kalanidhi Naithini, in a letter, said: "Whatever rumours are doing rounds on social media of heckling and strangulating Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are wrong."

He also added: "Today, morning area in-charge, Dr Archana Singh has presented a report to Additional Superintendent where she has mentioned that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's car was not moving in the scheduled route rather a different route."

Vadra, on Saturday, alleged that she was strangulated by a UP policewoman and was also pushed leading to her falling down. She was on her way to meet the family of former IPS officer SR Darapuri, who has been arrested during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Congress has slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over police "manhandling" the party's general secretary in Lucknow and demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state, which it alleged was "functioning like a banana republic".

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress leader Sushmita Dev said Priyanka Gandhi was acting as a responsible leader without disturbing peace.

"Let me state it categorically, the Uttar Pradesh police physically manhandled Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Police officers pushed her around her neck in a manner that she fell down. I want to ask Ajay Bisht Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh what type of government does he think he is running the state," Dev said.

A complaint has also been filed in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by the party regarding the incident.

Archana Singh, the morning area in-charge, said that the allegations put forth by Priyanka Gandhi that she was strangulated are "untrue".

"I was her fleet in-charge and this is not true. At 4.30 I got information that she will leave the party office for Kaul house. The arrangements were made accordingly and she came out of the party office and convoy proceeded towards the destination. The portion of the front convoy took the turn while she moved straight," said Singh.

"I wanted to enquire where she wants to go so that security arrangements can be made accordingly. She is under categorized protection and it's not safe for her to move as such. However, party workers refused to tell anything and Priyanka Gandhi stepped out of the car and started walking," she said.

"Meanwhile, I was heckled and I fell on the ground. She sat on a scooter and neither she nor the scooter driver was wearing the helmet. When she was told that it's not right to ride without a helmet she walked her way to the residence of SR Darapuri," claimed Singh.

In a letter written by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's office to the VIP security in-charge of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), it was alleged that a UP police official accompanied by dozen police personnel on Saturday morning had entered without permission the premises of where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is staying in Lucknow.

"This morning at 8:45 am CO of Hazratganj Abhay Mishra along with at least a dozen police personnel, entered the premises at which the protectee, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is staying, without prior permission," the letter said, adding, "He then began a heated verbal confrontation with the CRPF personnel in charge of the protectee's security a mere five meters away from the protectee's room.

Vadra's office has written to the VIP security in-charge of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) alleging that a UP police official accompanied by dozen police personnel on Saturday entered the premises of where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is staying in Lucknow without permission.

It further said that the official had a verbal confrontation with Vadra's security personnel, issued threats to them and warned of restricting her movements, ANI reported.

The letter adressed to Inspector-General (IG) (Int.) CRPF, New Delhi, said, "He (Mishra) shouted at them and demanded information about the protectee's schedule which has already been provided to the authorities yesterday. He then accused the CRPF personnel of withholding information since they had readied their fleet as is their standard protocol every morning."

The letter says that the official further threatened the CRPF personnel that he "will not provide any security cover" to the protectee and will not "allow" the protectee "to take even two steps out of the premises".

(With inputs from agencies)