Uttar Pradesh police detains Priyanka Gandhi, stops her from visiting Agra

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday was detained while she was on her way to Agra to meet the kin of a man who died in police custody on Tuesday. A video shared by news agency ANI shows police officials and Congress workers involved in a commotion with the latter shouting chants against the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. She has been taken to Police Lines in Lucknow, Congress leaders familiar with the developments tolld sources.

The police officials did not allow the Congress leader claiming that she does not have the permission to meet the kin of the deceased. Police also imposed Section 144 in the area. They cited Agra district magistrate's orders which barred politicians from entering the area as a reason behind stopping Priyanka Gandhi at the Lucknow-Agra Expressway.

Arun, a sanitation worker, was accused of stealing Rs. 25 lakh from the warehouse of the police station on Saturday night. Police officials say that Arun admitted to conducting the theft and they also recovered Rs. 15 lakh during the raid from his house before he suddenly fell ill and died. Six police personnel, including the station house officer, were suspended by the additional director general (ADG) of Agra zone, news agency PTI reported.

Arun belonged to the Valmiki community and the community leaders demanded a fair probe into the incident. The police said that appropriate action will be taken after the post-mortem report arrives.