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Dalits desert Baghpat village after death of boy, NHRC issues notices

NHRC has directed the DGP to send a detailed report of the matter within a month, and expressed concern over the migration of Dalits from the village.

Dalits desert Baghpat village after death of boy, NHRC issues notices

Representational Image (Photo: Getty Images)

The National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) has issued notices to Uttar Pradesh government’s Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar and Director General of Police Om Prakash Singh on the issue of migration of Dalits from Kamala village of district Baghpat, following the death of a Dalit boy, who was allegedly beaten to death by Gujjar men.

Taking cognizance of media reports, NHRC has directed the DGP to send a detailed report of the matter within a month, and expressed concern over the migration of Dalits from the village.

The commission has also directed the state government to maintain law and order in the village and apprise the NHRC of all the initiatives taken to provide necessary steps towards relief and rehabilitation of the affected families.

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On 27 April, a 23-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly beaten by a group of men belonging to Gujjar community in Kamaal village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. He later died in a hospital on 7 May.

The last rites of the Dalit youth, Akash, were performed in the village on Monday night in view of the tension in the area.

On 27 April, Akash and his friend Manish were returning to their village from a market, when a group of Gujjar men on gun-point dragged them inside their car and took them to a cremation and allegedly thrashed them.

The accused were reportedly angry with Akash for helping a village boy to elope with a Gujjar girl from the their village.

After the death of Akash police arrested all 7 youths named in the FIR lodged by father Dhanpal Singh . However, tensions still prevail in the village.

Naresh Kumar, brother-in-law of deceased, said that village barely has a population of 250 Dalits, while Gujjars are over 3000. Gram Pradhan is also a Gujjar, hence, the Dalits have been gripped with fear psychosis after the death of Akash.

The Gujjars are threatening the Dalits and mounting pressure for a compromise in the case, claimed Naresh, while adding that the majority of Dalits have sent their girl’s and youths outside village .

Deceased Akash was from a poor family and his father Dharampal earns a livelihood for the family by selling milk. “They don’t have money to pay bills of his deceased son’s treatment, ” said Naresh. 

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