Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and MP from Raebareli, has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding the arrest of the main accused in the murder of a 22-year-old Dalit man, Arjun Pasi. Pasi was shot dead on August 11 following an altercation with some locals over money owed by the accused to his brother, who is a barber. According to police, six people have been arrested in connection with the case so far.
In his letter to CM Yogi, Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns that the main accused, Vishal Singh, has not been arrested due to alleged political protection. He urged the Chief Minister to ensure the arrest of Vishal Singh to deliver justice to the victim’s family. Gandhi emphasized the need for swift action, as the family’s suffering and the atmosphere of fear among the local Dalit community have been prolonged due to the delay.
Gandhi visited the victim’s family in Pichwariya village, Raebareli, to offer condolences and learn about the incident. He stated that during his visit, family members and other villagers informed him that out of the seven named accused, six had been arrested, but Vishal Singh remained at large. They also alleged that Vishal Singh was receiving political protection, which was hindering his arrest.
Following his meeting with the family, Gandhi met with the district magistrate and superintendent of police to discuss the case and stress the urgency of arresting the main accused. Despite his efforts, Gandhi noted that two weeks had passed since the incident, and Vishal Singh had still not been apprehended, leaving the victim’s family and local community feeling vulnerable and insecure.
Rahul Gandhi highlighted that the denial of justice to the poor and marginalized Dalit family was unacceptable. He urged CM Yogi to take immediate action to arrest the main accused and restore the family’s sense of security. “Please inform me about the action taken in this regard,” Gandhi added in his letter.
During his visit to the family on August 20, Gandhi observed that the local community was angry and frustrated over the lack of action against the “mastermind” behind the killing. He emphasized the need for justice and stated that he would continue to press for action to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. “This is a clear-cut injustice, and this needs to be rectified. What punishment is to be given is up to the court, but I can put pressure, and I will not step back,” Gandhi told reporters at Bhuvalpur Sisni village.
