Rahul Gandhi Condemns Raebareli Lynching, Pledges Support to Victim’s Family

The Congress party has strongly condemned the killing of a Dalit man in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, who was allegedly lynched on Saturday. The incident, sparked by suspicions of the victim being a drone thief, has prompted strong reactions from political figures, with the Congress criticizing the state government. Supriya Shrinate, a Congress leader, reported on X that Rahul Gandhi, the Member of Parliament for Raebareli, has spoken with the bereaved family. Shrinate revealed that Rahul Gandhi offered his condolences to the father and brother of the deceased, and assured them of his full support in seeking justice. She asserted that the party would not tolerate such acts of violence against Dalits. Pawan Khera also took to X to express his anguish over the horrific incident, describing it as both heartbreaking and enraging. He highlighted that the victim, in his final moments, remembered Rahul Gandhi, reflecting the high regard in which the local populace holds their representative. Rahul Gandhi has personally communicated with the victim’s family, expressing his solidarity with them and voicing serious concerns over the increasing normalization of lynching in India. He has committed to ensuring that those responsible are legally punished. Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the case. The authorities have stated that the victim, Hariom Dandepur, who reportedly suffered from mental health issues, was attacked by a mob as he was en route to his in-laws’ house. The mob members are said to have mistaken him for a member of a group using drones to target houses. Raebareli’s SP, Yashveer Singh, confirmed the arrests and the transfer of the local SHO. He also stated that local police were aware of the rumors spreading in the area. Adding to the context, Raebareli police had previously arrested two individuals for flying a drone without the necessary permits near the PAC colony.