Raebareli lynching case | Rahul Gandhi meets victim's family, says govt threatened them against meeting him

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday met with the family of the man who was lynched, and said the 'government had threatened the family against meeting the leader.'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday met with the family of the Dalit man, who was allegedly lynched by villagers who mistook him for a thief during a night vigil in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli on October 2.

"This morning, the government threatened the family against meeting me. It's not important whether the victims' family meets me or not, but what is important is that these people are not criminals. They have committed no mistake," he said.

He further said the Congress will provide all possible help to the family.

"Wherever there will be atrocities against Dalits in the country, Congress will be there and we will provide all possible help and fight for justice," Rahul said.

The incident had sparked widespread outrage, with opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, accusing the BJP government of failing to protect Dalits and curb mob violence.

Following the attack, police registered a case, and have so far arrested 14 people, including the main accused who was held after an encounter on October 10. Five policemen, including two sub-inspectors, were suspended for alleged lapses in handling the case.

The deceased was identified as Hariom, a resident of neighbouring Fatehpur district.

According to the police, residents in several villages in the Unchahar police station area have been keeping night vigils following rumours that drone surveillance was being used to orchestrate thefts.

On October 2, some villagers became suspicious after seeing a man moving near the Jamunapur crossing and started questioning him, the police said. When the victim failed to respond to their queries, the villagers allegedly thrashed him brutally, suspecting him of being a thief.

(With PTI inputs)