Congress, MIM leaders visit mob lynched victim’s house in Hyderabad

Barkas: Top Congress and MIM leaders on Wednesday made separate visits to the residence of Mohammed Azam in Errakunta near Barkas, who was mob-lynched in Karnataka’s Bidar by a crowd on suspicion that he was part of a ‘child lifting gang’ on July 13. 

Following a letter from All India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhi who was ‘deeply saddened’ after hearing the ‘tragic death’ of the techie from the city, the Congress leaders including TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Former Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and former MP V Hanumatha Rao met the parents of the deceased. 

On instructions of Gandhi, the family of Akram was handed over a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh to the family.  It was also decided that the 18-year-old’s brother should be provided financial support for his higher education. “I request you to extend support to his family in any manner possible and to take up this issue at public forums. While this unfortunate incident occurred in Karnataka, we must step up our efforts to fight against such incidents in Telangana. Support could also be extended to organisations and individuals working towards creating public awareness against such social media rumours,” noted Gandhi. 

While speaking on the occasion in Barkas, Uttam assured that besides extending financial support his party would ensure that the family would get justice in this case. “We shall ensure that those who are responsible are brought to book with the help of fast track court,” he said. Shabbir regretted that he and TPCC chief were not able to attend the final rites or the injured because they both were in their native districts. He condemned and lamented the fake messages being forwarded in the social media were responsible for this kind of killings throughout the nation. 

“The youngsters were on a noble cause and fell prey to the rumours being spread on social media. Only because of these rumours the innocent are being killed and this has now reached uncontrollable levels,” he said. Earlier during the day, MIM MLA from Malakpet, Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala handed over Rs 1 lakh cash to the father of Mohammed Azam after personally visiting their residence. While MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded that the Karnataka government provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased.