Dalit man’s last rites disrupted; case filed against village head, 8 others

Agra: Tension flared in Bhainsi village under Khatauli police station in Muzaffarnagar recently after the last rites of a Dalit man were disrupted by the village head and his associates, who allegedly made casteist remarks and threatened the family against holding cremation at the village crematorium platform. Police and administrative officials rushed to the scene and provided security, allowing the cremation to take place.

Following a complaint by a woman from the Dalit community, a case was against nine individuals, including the village head, under BNS sections 126-1 (wrongful restraint) and 352 (assault or criminal force), along with relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act. The matter is being investigated by the deputy superintendent of police. “A detailed investigation is underway,” SHO Brijesh Sharma said.

The complainant, Sonia Kumari, said in her statement: “On Nov 9, during the funeral procession of Babu Valmiki, the village head, Amit Ahlawat, along with his associates, stopped us, wielding sticks. They declared, ‘Your last rites will not be performed here; only we have the right to use this land, as your rites will defile it.'”

Despite attempts by officials, including tehsildar Shraddha Gupta and patwari Amit Kumar, to resolve the situation, Ahlawat allegedly continued using caste-based slurs and threatened against using the cremation ground in the future.

Courtesy : TOI

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