A 42-year-old Dalit man was killed and three injured in a caste clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district, about 125 kilometres from here.
According to police sources here on Saturday, the incident occurred at Ramnathpur village in the district on Friday.
Sources said that around half a dozen people belonging to the Brahmin community assaulted Ramjit and his family, including two women, at the village. The Dalits were beaten with rods and sticks, they said, adding that the attackers escaped after perpetrating the crime, leaving the victims in a pool of blood.
Some neighbours rushed the victims to the local community health centre, but Ramjit succumbed on the way to hospital. The other injured were referred to the district hospital, where their condition is critical, sources said.
Sources said Ramjit was attacked a few days ago by one Rakesh Upadhyaya and his friend. They had also reportedly robbed Ramjit of cash. He approached the police to file a complaint, but was reportedly turned away.
The Dalits of the village had, in an apparent bid to exact revenge, assaulted Upadhyaya and two other youths of the Brahmin community last week. Friday’s attack was apparently meant to punish the Dalits.
Tension prevailed in the village and security personnel had been deployed in strength to maintain law and order, sources said.
The violence comes close on the heels of caste clashes in Saharanpur district in the state. Three persons were killed and over two dozen injured when members of the Thakur and Dalit communities clashed, following a dispute over taking out a procession at Shabbirpur village in the district last month.
Published 15 July 2017, 20:28 IST