‘Don’t come and do politics’: Family of Rae Bareli lynching victim ahead of Rahul Gandhi visit; meets him later

In the video, Hariom’s brother, with his father and sister standing next to him, was heard saying, “I am Shivam Valmiki, younger brother of Hariom Valmiki, who was beaten to death in Rae Bareli. Ministers of the government had visited us, and gave us financial assistance and jobs. I am satisfied with the action taken by the government. My brother’s killers have been put behind bars. So we request Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders not to come here to do politics.”

However, family members later met Rahul. The Congress alleged that the video was released under pressure from the government as it is afraid and wants to take away the rights of the Opposition to even meet victims.

“The statement was given under pressure from the government. Rahul Gandhi ji met the family members but the government tried to create a narrative. They did it in the past, too, when they stopped our party leaders from meeting Hariom’s family to give assistance but instead sent their ministers. The government wants to act as a dictator and take away the rights of the Opposition,” claimed Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi, adding, “The BJP is afraid and does not want Rahul Gandhi to visit a Dalit victim.”

Earlier in the morning, posters had come up on the walls of houses in the locality where Hariom’s home is located which read, “Darda ko mat bhunao, Vapas jao.”

On October 2, at Dandepur Jamunapur village in Rae Bareli, Hariom (38) was allegedly mistaken for a drone thief. He was apparently on his way to Amiliya ka Purva village, 8 km away, where his estranged wife and daughter lived with his father-in-law.

हरिओम वाल्मीकि की नृशंस हत्या ने पूरे देश की अंतरात्मा को झकझोर दिया है।

उनके परिवार की आंखों में दर्द के साथ एक सवाल था – क्या इस देश में दलित होना अब भी जानलेवा गुनाह है?

उत्तर प्रदेश में प्रशासन पीड़ित परिवार को डराने में जुटा है। उन्होंने परिवार को मुझसे मिलने से रोकने की… pic.twitter.com/6a8mglGb8M

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 17, 2025

Over the next few hours, Hariom was slapped, kicked, stripped, beaten with belts and canes and taken from one place to another in Dandepur Jamunapur as the mob of about a hundred asked him to lead them to his alleged accomplice.

One of the videos of the lynching showed Hariom mentioning Rahul Gandhi’s name as he was being beaten up brutally.

Police have so far arrested over 14 accused in the case.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had visited their home and assured the family of the party’s support.

Later, two BJP ministers, Rakesh Sachan and Asim Arun, had met the victim’s wife as well as his father, brother and sister. They gave them financial assistance along with jobs for his wife and sister.