NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday strongly condemned the "brutal lynching" of a Dalit youth in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, calling it a "stain" on the nation and a "profound question mark on the collective morality" of Indian society.
The victim, identified as Hariom, was allegedly beaten to death with sticks and belts by a group of locals after being mistaken for a thief. The incident has sparked outrage and political uproar across the state.
Police have so far arrested five people in connection with the case.
In a joint statement shared by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, the party said, "Our country has a Constitution that recognises every individual with a sense of equality. There is a law that grants equal status to the safety, rights, and expression of every citizen. What happened in Raebareli is a grave crime against the Constitution of this country. It is a crime against the Dalit community and a stain on this nation and society."