Archive · 19 Jul 2026
Controversy Erupts Over Meerut Murder Case
A young woman named Lalita from Meerut was murdered in May.
The accused, who knew Lalita, was arrested.
Two months later, protests erupted demanding justice, with around 2,000 people gathering, some from Delhi.
The protests turned dramatic when a police officer slapped a protester, which political leaders used to frame the issue as Dalit oppression.
Political figures like Chandrashekhar and Akhilesh Yadav exploited the situation for their own gain, with Akhilesh even giving the victim's family money and posing for photos.
The case, which was initially a personal crime, became a political tool ahead of elections.
Lalita Gautam, a Dalit woman, was murdered in Meerut in May by an OBC youth.
Protests erupted in July, with around 2,000 people, some from Delhi, demanding justice.
The protests turned dramatic when a Brahmin SSP slapped a Dalit protester named Ravi Gautam.
Political leaders Chandrashekhar and Akhilesh Yadav exploited the incident for political gain.
Akhilesh Yadav gave the victim's family Rs 2 lakh and posed for photos to project his party as their well-wishers.
- Who
- Lalita Gautam (victim), OBC youth (accused), Chandrashekhar, Akhilesh Yadav (political figures), Ravi Gautam (protester)
- What
- Murder of Lalita Gautam and subsequent protests
- When
- Murder in May, protests in July
- Where
- Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
- Why
- Political exploitation of the case for electoral gains
- Victim
- Lalita Gautam (Dalit community)
- Accused
- OBC community youth
- Location
- Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
- Protest Location
- Meerut Collectorate
- Protest Size
- 2,000 people
- Political Figures Involved
- Chandrashekhar, Akhilesh Yadav
- SSP Action
- Slapped a protester named Ravi Gautam
- Compensation Given
- Rs 2 lakh by Akhilesh Yadav