Dalit family thrashed by upper caste men for bathing in tubewell

MEERUT: Four members of a Dalit family, including two minors and a former village head, were allegedly thrashed by upper caste people for “bathing” in a tubewell reservoir in Khurja city of Bulandshahr district, police said on Thursday.

The former village head, Malkhan Singh (58), said his family was taking a bath in the reservoir of a tubewell on Wednesday when a group of 8-10 upper caste men, aged 20-25 years, of the same village arrived and attacked them with sticks.

Singh said, “We were bathing when some youths arrived near the reservoir. When the children playfully reached their side of the reservoir, they threatened us not to take a bath near them. An argument broke out when we protested, and they called more men, who then thrashed us mercilessly with sticks.”

He added, “Around five to seven members of my family, including women and children, were injured in the attack.”

SSP Bulandshahr, Shlok Kumar, said “Police were informed that a group of upper caste people thrashed people from the Dalit community. The accused first asked them to leave or take a bath away from them saying ‘both groups cannot bath together’. After that, the two sides got into a heated argument and the Dalit family was thrashed by the youths.”

He added, “No arrest has been made so far. The injured are being provided treatment at district hospital and their condition is stable. An investigation is underway and appropriate action will be taken.”

An FIR was registered at Khurja police station under IPC sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148, 323 (criminal assault), 504, 506 (criminal intimidation), and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act against 10 accused persons on Thursday, said police officials.

Courtesy : TOI

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