'Rahul's claim of Bhatta-Parsaul rapes true'

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's allegation of police brutalities in Bhatta and Parsaul villages during the recent farmers' protest has been proven right as seven women have claimed that they were raped by men in uniform, a Union Minister said on Monday.

Seven women gave affidavits to National Commission for Scheduled Castes claiming that they were raped by policemen on May 7, Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh said, adding that this proves that police committed atrocities in the two villages during the agitation as suspected by Gandhi.

The NCSC recently claimed that seven women of Bhatta and Parsaul in Greater Noida were raped by policemen during the agitation against land acquisition in May. The   victims stated that the men of their families had fled due to fear of arrest and they were alone at their homes when policemen raped them.

Though the NCSC had directed the Gautam Budha Nagar SSP to file a first information report on the basis of the affidavits, till date no FIR has been lodged. "The matter is being probed," a police official said.

Gandhi had alleged that several women were raped and many farmers killed during the agitation in the two villagers. Meanwhile, the Minister distributed gas connections to around 750 families while visiting Bhatta, Parsaul and Acchepur villages here and informed farmers about the new land acquisition policy to be brought in Parliament.

He also sought their suggestions which could be included in the final draft of the bill.