Parbhani : Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, met the family of Somnath Suryawanshi on Monday,, who allegedly died in police custody in Maharashtra’s Parbhani earlier this month. Addressing the media persons after meeting the family, he alleged that Suryawanshi was killed as he was a Dalit.
The Congress leader further claimed that the victim’s demise was custodial death. During his meeting with the family, Rahul Gandhi also went through the post-mortem report and also saw videos and photographs.
Action should be taken against culprits at the earliest: Rahul Gandhi
“No politics is being done… The ideology is responsible because the Chief Minister has made this statement so the Chief Minister is responsible, those who have killed him are responsible and action should be taken as soon as possible,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
The violence took place earlier this month in the district after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue outside near the railway station was damaged. Soon after the incident, Somnath Suryawanshi was arrested in connection with the violence. He later died following a complaint of chest pain while he was in judicial custody.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis denies allegations
Denying his allegations, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added that Rahul Gandhi visited the family with a ‘political motive’. “We have ordered a judicial probe. The truth will come out. If the probe finds that Suryavanshi died because he was beaten up, there will be stern action against those who are guilty,” he added. Addressing the state assembly recently, Fadnavis claimed that the CCTV footage did not show any proof of violence against the victim in the prison.
