Ajay Rai meets Kashi lynching victim’s kin, seeks ₹2cr compensation

Lucknow/Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai on Wednesday visited the family of Manish Singh, the victim in the widely discussed Pindra lynching case, amid heavy police deployment and administrative restrictions.

Singh (36), a businessman, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob after his car hit a woman who was washing utensils along the roadside in Ghamhapur village under the Phulpur police station area of Varanasi. Police said the incident occurred when Singh was returning home from his factory and lost control of his vehicle while navigating the village road.

Rai alleged that the administration attempted to prevent him from reaching the victim’s village, citing multiple security checks and restrictions on his movement from Lucknow to Varanasi. Despite the obstacles, he said he managed to meet the bereaved family and offer his condolences.

“It appeared that govt is more focused on stopping an elected representative from meeting the victim’s family than on taking action against the criminals,” Rai told reporters.

The Congress leader alleged that the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh was deteriorating and claimed that “jungle raj” prevailed in the state.

Rai demanded a compensation of ₹2 crore for Singh’s family and a govt job for one eligible family member. He also sought strict action against the accused as well as those allegedly shielding them.

He said the matter would be raised directly with chief minister Yogi Adityanath and warned of a broader political agitation if justice was not delivered.

Rai asserted that the Congress would continue its fight “from the streets to the legislature” until the victim’s family receives justice.