A 38-year-old man named Hari Om from Fatehpur Kotwali was lynched by a mob in Rae Bareli on October 2, with accusations of being a “drone thief.” His severely beaten, semi-naked body was discovered near the Ishwar Daspur railway station. The Congress party alleged that the attackers taunted him, stating, “We are Baba’s (Yogi Adityanath’s) men.”
According to police reports, Hari Om was traveling on the Unchahar-Dalmaun road around 1 AM when a group of approximately 25 villagers confronted him. Despite his insistence that he was from a nearby village, the villagers remained suspicious. Convinced he was a “drone thief,” they began assaulting him with sticks and belts.
Despite Hari Om’s pleas for mercy, he was brutally beaten, tied to a pole, and later found dead near the railway tracks. Authorities have filed a murder case against 12 individuals; six of whom are currently in custody. Five of those arrested—Vaibhav Singh, Vipin Maurya, Sahdev Pasi, Suresh Maurya, and Vijay Kumar—were apprehended on October 4.
This incident has triggered widespread fear in parts of Uttar Pradesh due to unverified rumors about “drone thieves” in rural areas, despite no evidence connecting drones to criminal activities. The Congress party shared a video in which Hari Om, in his final moments, called out the name of Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. The attackers reportedly continued their assault, claiming, “We are the ‘Baba’ ones.” Rae Bareli is notably Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary constituency.
Congress officials criticized the incident, stating that it reveals a broader trend of criminality in Uttar Pradesh under the rule of Yogi Adityanath, particularly concerning crimes against Dalits. They highlighted that Uttar Pradesh has the highest incidence of such crimes.
Rahul Gandhi has contacted Hari Om’s family, extending his condolences and pledging full support in seeking justice. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera termed the lynching both “heartbreaking and enraging” and noted that in his last moments, the victim called out in hope to Rahul Gandhi. Khera expressed concern over the increasing normalization of lynching in India and demanded that those responsible should face appropriate legal consequences.
Samajwadi Party MLA Atul Pradhan commented that the constitution guarantees equality, but the ruling BJP government appears resistant to this principle. He questioned when justice would be served and emphasized that social justice will remain incomplete until everyone is assured equal rights under the law.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh remarked that the incident raises critical concerns about the government’s proclaimed commitment to “unity and harmony” amid ongoing violence fueled by hatred and mob rule. He questioned the absence of real justice and unity in light of the killing.
Lynching incidents against Dalits are often linked to accusations related to cow slaughter, theft, land disputes, or violations of caste norms. Despite constitutional protections under Articles 14 (equality), 15 (non-discrimination), and 21 (right to life), such episodes reflect deep-seated issues of casteism, vigilantism, and failures in law enforcement.
The original report appeared on Maktoob Media.
Tags: Dalit youth, lynched, UP, Congress, Baba’s men
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