Raebareli Dalit lynching case: Rahul meets victim Valmiki's family, claims Govt is threatening them

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, met Hariom Valmiki's family, the Dalit man who was lynched in Raebareli, which is his constituency. Following the meeting, he claimed that they were "threatened" by the Government against meeting him. 

The Congress leader also stated that his party will "try its best to provide all possible help to the family", and 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."

Amid rumors in the village that a gang was using drones to carry out surveillance and mark houses for robberies, the villagers were keeping a close vigil at night. During this, on October 2, around 1 am, 40-year-old Valmiki was allegedly lynched by villagers after they mistook him for a thief.

Rahul spent at least 25 minutes with Valmiki's family at their residence in Fatehpur district, where he met and spoke with the victim's father, Gangadeen, his brother Shivam, and sister Kusum. 

After meeting Valmiki's family, he told the media, "This morning, the Government threatened the family against meeting me...It's not important whether the victim's family meets me or not, but what is important is that these people are not criminals. They have committed no mistake...I met the deceased's family and listened to them. The Congress Party and I will try our best to 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." 

#WATCH | Fatehpur, UP | Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "... This morning, the governemnt 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… pic.twitter.com/tWDHhCUwdL

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2025

Adding, "A crime has been committed against them, and it seems as if they are criminals." 

Rahul also talked about the suicide of a Haryana officer, saying, "A Dalit officer committed suicide a few days ago. I went there, and today I have come here. The family did not commit the crime. A crime has been committed against them, and it seems as if they are the criminals. They are not being allowed to go out of their house." 

Demanding action from the Government, Rahul urged that the "accused should not be protected." The Raebareli MP said, "They are being threatened. All they are asking for is justice. Our son had been killed. The murder is recorded on video. We are asking for justice...there is a girl in there, who needs to be operated on, but she is unable to get it done because the government has locked them in. Atrocities, murders, and rapes are being committed against Dalits in the entire nation. I want to ask the CM that they should be served justice. They should be respected. Action should be taken against perpetrators, and they should not be protected."