"Feels like country has gone backwards": Congress leader demands strict action in Hathras incident

Hathras (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 27 (ANI): Congress leader Supriya Shrinate has called for strict action against those involved in the alleged murder of an eight-year-old school student in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.
She expressed concern that the country seems to have regressed in recent years.
"I can't believe that in the 21st century, 78 years after India's independence, we are witnessing such things...5 people from school are involved in this incident...we sent our children to school so that they can study and become something, so that they can be safe...there should be strict action against this...now it feels like in the past few years, our country has gone backwards," Shrinate said.
According to the police, the boy was allegedly murdered on September 23 at the hostel of a private school in Hathras.
Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Singh, said, "On 23rd September, a student was murdered at the hostel of D.L. Public School under Sahpau PS. A case was registered under relevant sections on the basis of the statement of the complainant. Five accused, including the owner of the school, have been arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody. The police will take action by investigating all angles."
Based on the complaint, school director Dinesh Baghel, his father, and three others have been arrested for the murder.
"On September 23, a student identified as Kirtarth was murdered at the hostel of DL Public School under Sahpau Police Station. A case has been registered based on the statement of the complainant," Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Singh told ANI.
"Five accused, including the school owner, have been taken into custody. They have been sent to judicial custody. We are looking into all angles," he added.
Meanwhile, devastated by the horrific incident, the victim's family has demanded that the culprits be hanged.
"Bulldozers should be run on the school. There should be a CBI inquiry in the case... the culprits should be hanged," said Kamlesh, the victim's mother.
Kishan Kushwaha, the victim's father, demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ascertain the real reason behind the murder.
"I received a call from the school manager in the morning, stating that my child's health was very poor... They kept misleading me. After one and a half hours, I found my son's body with Dinesh Baghel. My son's bag was also in his car, and Dinesh Baghel was inebriated at that time," he claimed.
"Another person involved, Lakshman Singh, was not present in the car. My son was strangled to death, and his neck was broken," he alleged.
"I want the culprits to be hanged and for my son to get justice. My son had been studying at that school for around four years, and over 500 students study in the same school. I do not believe that sacrifices or black magic occur in the school. The true reason behind this should be investigated, and I request the Chief Minister to form an SIT," he said.
The victim's grandfather, Mann Singh, stated, "He was killed by strangulation. When we reached the incident spot, they (the accused) fled with the child... We caught them in Agra with the child and the school bag."
Soon after the incident came to light, the Hathras Basic Education Officer wrote a letter to SP Hathras and other officials to register an FIR against Dinesh Baghel, Manager/Director of DL Public School.
In the letter the Hathras Basic Education Officer asked the SP Hathras and other officials to register an FIR against Dinesh Baghel, Manager/Director of DL Public School for "illegally running a residential school from classes 1 to 8 whereas the department had granted recognition only for classes 1 to 5."
The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested five people in connection with the case, and further investigations are underway.
Devendra Sharma, President of the UP Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called the incident "sad" and expressed concern for children's rights.
"It is a sad incident, as such occurrences due to superstition are still happening in our society. It must be stopped, and the Commission for Protection of Child Rights is concerned about children's rights. Politics should not be played regarding this incident," Sharma said.
The victim was a student at DL Public School in Rasgawa, located in the Sahpau police station area of Hathras district, where he lived in the school's hostel.
The accused have been identified as Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, Jashodhan Singh alias Bhagat ji, Laxman Singh, and Virpal Singh alias Viru.
The five accused have been booked under section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sent to judicial custody, said police. (ANI)