A 38-year-old Dalit man was beaten to death by a mob in Raebareli after being accused of stealing a drone, in an incident that has triggered widespread anger and political reactions.
The victim, identified as Hariom from Fatehpur district, was allegedly assaulted for hours by villagers who suspected him of theft. His body was later found near a railway track in the Unchahar area with severe injuries.
Videos Reveal Chilling Assault
Three disturbing videos of the incident have surfaced. The first showed Hariom’s body lying near the railway track. The second captured villagers questioning and beating him. The third video, which emerged later, showed the mob continuing the assault as the victim cried in pain.
In the video, Hariom can be heard calling out the name of Rahul Gandhi while being beaten. A voice from the crowd responds, “Everyone here is Baba’s people,” before the assault continues.
The attackers allegedly hit him repeatedly with sticks and belts, including on his thighs and private parts, ignoring his pleas for mercy.
Tied, Stripped and Dumped Near Track
According to the police investigation, Hariom was stopped by villagers on the night of October 1 while walking towards Ishwardaspur. Suspecting him of theft, they allegedly stripped him partially, tied his hands with his shirt, and assaulted him.
Even after he became semi conscious, the mob reportedly continued beating him near a canal, tying him to a pole before dumping him near the railway line.
He later died from the injuries.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.