The Uttar Pradesh police, under fire for their handling of the investigation into the Hathras Dalit girl’s assault and alleged gangrape by four upper caste Thakur men, have filed an FIR against unknown people for allegedly using the tragedy to cause caste and communal violence.

The FIR, filed on October 4 at the Chandpa police station, alleges an “international plot” to instigate violence and defame the Adityanath regime.

The FIR invokes penal provisions related to “sedition, promoting enmity between groups, acts to disturb harmony, assertions prejudicial to national integration, and intent to incite”. Their investigation into the “conspiracy”, the police said, will also cover allegations that the unknown persons were trying to “mislead the girl’s family, spreading rumours, and putting up provocative posts on social media.

At a recent meeting with BJP workers, Adityanath had asked them “to expose those who want to incite caste and communal riots”. In recent days, BJP functionaries have accused journalists of coaching the girl’s family to speak out against the government and generally misreporting on the matter.

The Indian Express reported, quoting unnamed sources, that a website called “Justice for Hathras Victim”, which has helped mobilise protests seeking justice for the Dalit girl is under the police’s scanner.

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