Protests in Maharashtra over Dalit law student’s custodial death, allegations of police brutality

Remembering her deceased son, mother says, his only asset was his hundreds of books. He wanted to be even 1% of Babasaheb.

Rajan Chaudhary

Maharashtra: Sitting on a cot in the courtyard of a relative’s house in Annabhau Sathe Nagar in Parbhani, Vijayabai Suryavanshi remembers her son Somnath as a “book lover”. “His only asset was his hundreds of books. He wanted to be even 1% of Babasaheb,” she says.

Somnath Suryavanshi, a 35-year-old law student, died in police custody on December 15, two days before his law exams. An interim post-mortem report recorded the cause of death as “shock caused by multiple injuries”.

His death led to massive protests in Parbhani, as it coincided with allegations of police brutality in Dalit areas following the violence on December 10. The unrest began following reports of desecration of a copy of the Constitution placed near Ambedkar’s statue in the area.

Political ramifications

The opposition has used the incident to target the newly-elected Mahayuti government. The incident coincides with an ongoing debate in Parliament on the Constitution and Ambedkar’s legacy.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to the protest in the Maharashtra Assembly on Friday. He said Somnath was suffering from breathing difficulties and other health problems and made no complaint of police torture during his court appearance. However, the government has launched a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, suspended a police sub-inspector and sent another officer on leave.

For Somnath’s family, it is a far cry from justice. “It was murder by the police,” says his brother Premnath.

Struggle for education

Somnath belonged to the nomadic Vadar community, which is listed as a Scheduled Caste. Getting an education was a rare feat for him due to frequent relocations. The death of his father in 2018 further strained the family.

Despite these challenges, Somnath remained dedicated to education, wanting to become a lawyer and provide free legal aid. “He believed that education could change lives and help others,” recalls Premnath.

Arson during a protest against the alleged damage to a replica of the Indian Constitution in Maharashtra’s Parbhani continues for the second day. (PTI photo)

From peaceful protest to violence

According to the family, Somnath was providing legal advice to protesters after the Constitution desecration incident in Parbhani. The protest, which was initially peaceful, turned violent after police held a resident of Mirzapur village, 20km away, responsible. Police described him as “mentally unstable and suicidal”, but Dalit activists saw it as an attempt to cover up caste-based violence.

The protests turned violent on 10 December. Between 11 and 12 December, the police raided Dalit settlements, arresting about 50 people, including Somnath. Witnesses say the police entered homes at night and even misbehaved with women. Somnath was detained from Shankar Nagar, a predominantly Dalit community-dominated area, and kept in two days of police custody. The family was informed of his death on 15 December, which was reported to be a heart attack.

The family last spoke to Somnath on 9 December. They were not aware of the rising tension in Parbhani.

Questions over post-mortem

When the Suryavanshi family was on their way to Parbhani, they were told that Somnath’s body had been sent to Aurangabad for post-mortem. Upon reaching there, they encountered a crowd of protesters, raising suspicion. The police initially refused to hand over the body, saying it could lead to violence.

The mother, Vijayabai, says, “The police asked if I would take responsibility for any violence. I asked if they would take responsibility for my son’s death.”

After Dalit activists intervened, the family was handed over Somnath’s body. “He was innocent and killed by the police,” says Premnath.

Official response and allegations

In the Assembly, CM Fadnavis revealed that the man who insulted the Constitution was undergoing psychiatric treatment since 2012. “A committee of four doctors confirmed his mental condition,” he said.

The government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a Dalit activist who died of a heart attack during the protest. Fadnavis said most protesters were peaceful, and blamed about 200 people for the violence.

However, locals are still alleging police atrocities. Jyoti Kankute claims that her daughters, aged 14 and 16, were detained even though they were not involved in the protest. “When I went to the police station, I was beaten and abused,” she alleges.

Similarly, Puja Jadhav’s in-laws say they were detained and beaten up when they tried to intervene. “The police beat me with sticks. My husband, who is a kidney patient, was dragged out,” says Vimal Jadhav.

In Priyadarshini Nagar, nurse Vatsalabai Manwate alleges she was detained for recording the police action. Nikita Vature claims she was beaten up until she revealed that she had recently given birth.

The case is under investigation and the Suryavanshi family seeks justice, hoping that Somnath’s legacy for education and equality will not be forgotten.

Courtesy : Hindi News