Una incident: Woman whom Rahul met in hospital impersonated as victim's mother

UNA: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met the family members of Dalits, who were thrashed while skinning a dead cow, and assured all possible help to the victims. But the woman, Rama Ben, whom Rahul met during his visit to the hospital, assuming her to be the mother of one of the victims, was not even remotely connected to any of the labourers beaten up in the incident. 'I never said that I am his (victim's) real mother but being from the Dalit community I am like his mother," Ben said. "He (victim) said that Amma you sit here as Rahul Gandhi is coming. So I sat. When Rahul Ji came I started crying and then he hugged me," she said. Rahul, who was accompanied by Congress leaders Kumari Selja and Gurudas Kamat, also had tea with the family members of the victims in this remote village near Una town of Gir-Somnath district, where the incident took place on July 11. The Congress Vice President met Balubhai Sarvaiya and his family members, after landing at the nearby Union Territory of Diu. Seven of family members of Balubhai including him were beaten up in the incident. Gandhi, who spent around 40 minutes with the family members, had said he is "ashamed" that such incidents are taking place in India. Later, Rahul Gandhi left for Rajkot where the victims of flogging are undergoing treatment. Gujarat Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar later said that Rahul will give Rs 5 lakh as aid to family of the victims. The Dalit protests over the incident have spread to several parts of the state unleashing violence, in which a head constable was killed during stone-pelting in Amreli. Besides, State Transport buses were attacked and more than 17 members of the community have allegedly attempted suicide so far. The protest follows the brutal assault on fellow community members on July 11 for allegedly skinning a cow in Una town of Gir-Somnath district. Sixteen persons have been arrested so far in connection with the assault on Dalits, while four policemen have been suspended for dereliction of duty. (With PTI inputs)