Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the family of Hari Om Valmiki, a 38-year-old Dalit man lynched in Rae Bareli's Unchahar area on October 2, 2025, on suspicion of theft, accusing the Uttar Pradesh administration of pressuring the relatives to avoid the interaction. Accompanied by Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, Gandhi spent nearly 30 minutes at the family's home in the Turab Ali ka Tola locality on October 17, defying a morning video statement from the kin expressing satisfaction with government actions and urging leaders not to politicise the tragedy. "This morning, the government threatened the family against meeting me," Gandhi told ANI, emphasising that the victims "are not criminals" and vowing Congress's unwavering support for Dalit justice nationwide. The visit, amid tight security that sealed off access lanes, underscores escalating political tensions over caste-based violence in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.

Hari Om Valmiki, a resident of Tarawati ka Purwa village in neighbouring Fatehpur, was beaten to death by a mob mistaking him for a "drone chor" amid rumours of aerial surveillance for robberies, with his mutilated body later discovered near a railway track. Disturbing videos of the assault, showing attackers ignoring pleas and claiming allegiance to "Baba" (a reference to a local strongman), went viral, sparking outrage and prompting 14 arrests, including from Dalit and backward communities, as clarified by police to downplay caste angles. Five officers were suspended for probe lapses, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the family on October 11, announcing financial aid, jobs—including a staff nurse position for sister Kusum at Fatehpur Medical College—and ₹5 lakh ex-gratia. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai condemned the BJP for "oppression", alleging Adityanath "came to his senses" only after opposition outcry.

The pre-visit video, featuring brother Shivam flanked by father Gangadin and sister Kusum, stated, "We are satisfied with the government's action... Don't come here to do politics," and highlighted ministerial visits and arrests. Gandhi dismissed it as coerced, asserting, "They were forced to say..." and prioritising systemic failures that shield perpetrators while victimising the oppressed. Post-meeting, Shivam reiterated government support and denied restrictions, saying, "We told Rahul Gandhi the administration has not stopped us... We did not agree to meet because we were getting all the help." BJP's C.R. Kesavan decried Gandhi's "fakery" and "hypocritical drama", accusing Congress of exploiting tragedies to incite division, while Minister Asim Arun insisted the killing stemmed from "confusion" over Valmiki's mental health, not caste, urging against politicisation.

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The episode amplifies broader concerns over Dalit safety in Uttar Pradesh, where mob lynchings have risen 20% since 2022, per National Crime Records Bureau data, often tied to rumours and weak policing. Gandhi's Hindi X post echoed the pain, questioning if "being Dalit is still a death sentence" and pledging solidarity with the marginalised, garnering over 4,400 likes and #JusticeForHariom. Allies like Moin Qureshi linked it to recent incidents, including IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar's suicide and an assault on CJI B.R. Gavai, framing it as the BJP's anti-Dalit pattern. As investigations continue, the confrontation highlights deepening rifts ahead of 2027 polls, with the opposition decrying a "jungle raj" and the ruling party emphasising swift justice to quell caste narratives.

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