Hathras incident: UP STF to probe into conspiracy of communal riots

The state government has already suspended five officials, including the Hathras SP, on the basis of a primary report of the SIT.

The probe into the rape and murder of the victim is also taken up by the sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) here, the government said the case registered in the matter at Chandpa police station of Hathras would now be probed by the STF.

"The Special unit of STF will investigate the conspiracy to incite ethnic and communal riots in the state on the pretext of Hathras. Case registered in Chandpa police station of Hathras referred to a special unit of STF," the statement said.

The STF's Special Unit was set up to expose the conspiracies, after the international efforts to discredit the Yogi Adityanath government came to light, it alleged.

"Large funding and conspiracies were done to discredit the Yogi government from all Islamic countries, including Pakistan, the UAE and Bangladesh. Along with spreading fake information, edited photographs and rumours, a big effort was made to spread ethnic and communal riots in the state by inciting the victim's circuit," it added.

As per the CM office, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is already interrogating the arrested members of Popular Front of India (PFI) in this case.

On Oct 7, an FIR was registered against four people with links to PFI in Mathura, who were 'going to Hathras to disrupt peace, as part of a larger conspiracy'.

The FIR stated that media reports have pointed out that some anti-social elements were plotting to harm social harmony by instigating caste factions, using the pretext of the Hathras incident.

A 19-year-old Dalit woman of Hathras had died at Delhi's Safdarjung hospital on Sept 29, after her alleged rape and murder at the hands of four upper-caste men.

All four accused in the incident have been arrested.