Dalit man lynched over ‘drone chor’ rumours in UP’s Raebareli; Cong slams ‘jungle raj’ under Yogi govt

According to police, on October 2, they first found a man’s body near a railway track in Unchahar. It was sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Later, a purported video went viral on social media, showing the man being brutally beaten by a group of villagers, who suspected he was a thief, and demanded that he reveal the names of his alleged accomplices. 

Police said five people were identified through the video and arrested in connection with the assault, and booked under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS. Police said the FIR has now been converted to a murder case, with BNS Section 103 added.

UP Director General of Police said three police personnel, including a sub-inspector, have been suspended for negligence.

“In the Unchahar area, a man was beaten to death by some people, who mistook him for a thief. An FIR has been lodged and five accused have been arrested. Raids are being conducted to catch the remaining accused,” said ASP, Raebareli, Sanjeev Kumar Sinha.

Asked whether charges under the SC/ST Act will be added, Sinha said legal opinion has been sought and police will proceed accordingly.

After meeting the family, Ajay Rai said on X that the “brutal lynching is a horrifying picture of the jungle raj under the Yogi government”.

In a video he shared on X, he alleged, “Hariom Valmiki was on his way to meet his wife when he was beaten in the presence of the police… When he took Rahul Gandhi’s name, the attackers said, ‘Hum bhi Baba ke log hain…”

“Yeh Baba ke log pure pradesh mein gundayi kar rahe hain,” he added.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal in a post on X alleged that under CM Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has turned into hell for Dalits, minorities and backward communities. 

The Uttar Pradesh Congress posted on X, “Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke with the father and brother of the young man killed in this inhumane killing in Rae Bareli and listened to their pain, while offering condolences. He assured the family that Congress would stand with them like a rock in the fight against this injustice.”

Stating that the Raebareli incident is heartbreaking, ASP Sinha also urged people not to spread rumours related to caste as the accused come from different social backgrounds.