Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday spoke by phone to the father of a man whose family was brutally killed in Amethi. The deceased included the man's son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters, all shot dead by unidentified assailants. Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader and former MP for Rae Bareli-Amethi, also conveyed her condolences to the bereaved father through Rahul. Congress state president Ajay Rai mentioned in Lucknow that he was on his way to Rae Bareli to meet the family.
Ram Gopal, around 60, arrived in Sudamapuri village in Rae Bareli with the bodies of his family members. The victims—Sunil Kumar, a 35-year-old teacher, his wife Poonam, aged 32, and their daughters Drishti and Suni—were murdered in their rented home in Amethi's Ahorwa Bhawani area on Thursday evening.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Rahul Gandhi’s call to Ram Gopal, arranged by Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, lasted approximately three minutes. This tragic killing of a Dalit family has led to widespread criticism of the state government.
“My son went this way; they (the killers) should go the same way,” Ram Gopal was quoted as saying. Sharma shared that he has been in contact with Ram Gopal since the incident, adding, “I have spoken to the DM of Amethi and urged a thorough probe into the matter. Let the police investigation conclude.”
Amethi MP Sharma criticised the state government, questioning its claims about law and order: “The government keeps patting its back, claiming good law and order, but if that is the case, why are such incidents happening?” He added that it was Rahul Gandhi who had directed him to visit the affected area, as both Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies have historical ties to the Gandhi family.
“I spoke to Rahul ji, updated him about the incident and the situation. He asked me to go to the village,” Sharma told PTI. “The incident occurred in my constituency, but the victims were from Rahul ji’s constituency. He directed me to be here, and I complied.”
Kishori Lal Sharma also mentioned Sonia Gandhi’s support for the family. “She called to express her sympathies, but Ram Gopal was too distraught to speak with her at that moment. Rahul ji passed on her message.”
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Offers Condolences
In response to this incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered condolences for the loss of life, whereas, the opposition lashed out at the BJP questioning the law and order in the state.
An initial police investigation disclosed that Poonam had filed a complaint against Chandan Verma in Rae Bareli on August 18 under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and for harassment.
"If anything happens to me or my family, Verma should be held responsible for it," she had stated in her complaint, according to Amethi Superintendent of Police Anoop Kumar Singh. It has yet to be determined whether the two cases are related, he added.