Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on Friday detained by the police in Uttar Pradesh and stopped from proceeding to Sonbhadra to meet the kin of those killed in firing over a land dispute on July 17, reports the Times of India.
Priyanka was detained by the police who cited the violation of Section 144, which was imposed in the area. The section prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area.
"Yes, we still won't be cowed down. We were only going peacefully to meet victim families. I don't know where are they taking me, we are ready to go anywhere," Priyanka told ANI.
Reacting to her arrest, Rahul Gandhi called the arrest 'disturbing' and an 'arbitrary application of power'. The illegal arrest of Priyanka in Sonbhadra, UP, is disturbing. This arbitrary application of power, to prevent her…
Priyanka was earlier seen participating in a dharna in Mirzapur along with other Congress leaders against the Uttar Pradesh government. "Just want to go and meet families of victims (Sonbhadra firing case), I even assured that will take only four people with me. Yet administration is not letting us go there. They should tell us why we are being stopped. We will continue to sit here peacefully," Priyanka told reporters.
"Officers told me that they have received an order from higher authorities, I want them to show me such notice," she added.
She was escorted amidst heavy police security. According to police, 10 people were killed in the firing that took place two days ago in connection with a land dispute between two communities. On the day of the incident, Priyanka had criticised the state government over the law and order situation.
