A horrific incident of caste-based violence has emerged from Uttar Pradesh's Lalitpur district, where a 33-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death for refusing to massage the feet of three men during a liquor party. The accused then attempted to cover up the crime by staging the victim's body to look like a road accident.
Victim identified as Rajkumar
The deceased has been identified as Rajkumar alias Chhannu (33), a member of the Scheduled Caste community. According to Lalitpur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kalu Singh, the police received information on Sunday morning about an unconscious man lying on a road behind Varni Jain College near Gurunanak Dharamshala.
Rajkumar was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. An investigation was immediately launched.
Incident occurred during liquor party
Police investigation revealed that Rajkumar had attended a liquor party on Saturday night at the residence of Samyak Rajnayak alias Rahi Jain (38) in the Civil Lines area. Also present were Gajendra Narwaria alias Gajendra Singh Rajput (37) and Gaurav Raikwar (25). The three accused, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, demanded that Rajkumar massage their feet.
When Rajkumar refused, the men attacked him with a belt and an iron rod, causing fatal injuries. To conceal their crime, they dumped his body on the road, hoping it would be mistaken for a hit-and-run accident.
Accused arrested, charged under SC/ST Act
Police have arrested all three accused and registered a case of murder along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was filed based on a complaint from the victim's mother.
The accused have reportedly confessed to the crime during questioning. The victim's body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further legal proceedings are underway.
This brutal incident highlights the persistent caste discrimination and violence faced by Dalits in parts of India. The authorities have assured a thorough investigation and swift justice.
