Uttar Pradesh: A 33-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death by three men after refusing to massage their feet during a late-night drinking session in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur district. Police have arrested all three accused and registered a case of murder along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Victim Found Unconscious On Road
According to police, officers received information on Sunday morning about a man lying unconscious on a road behind Varni Jain College near Gurunanak Dharamshala.
The victim was identified as Rajkumar, also known as Chhannu, a member of a Scheduled Caste community. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Dispute During Liquor Party
During the investigation, police learned that Rajkumar had attended a liquor party at the residence of Samyak Rajnayak, also known as Rahi Jain, on Saturday night. Two other men, identified as Gajendra Narwaria alias Gajendra Singh Rajput and Gaurav Raikwar, were also present.
According to police, the accused were allegedly intoxicated and asked Rajkumar to massage their feet. When he refused, an argument reportedly broke out.
Investigators allege the three men then assaulted him using a belt and an iron rod, causing severe injuries that led to his death.
Alleged Attempt To Stage Road Accident
Police said the accused allegedly attempted to conceal the crime after Rajkumar died.
To make the death appear to be a road accident, they allegedly dumped the body on a nearby road and fled the scene. However, evidence collected during the investigation and questioning of the suspects led police to conclude that the death was a homicide rather than an accident.
Arrests Made, SC/ST Act Invoked
Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother, police registered a case for murder and invoked relevant sections of the SC/ST Act.
All three accused have been arrested. According to police, they admitted their involvement during questioning.
The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is ongoing.
Conclusion
The incident has sparked outrage in Lalitpur, with police treating the case as a serious offence involving caste-based provisions. Authorities say the investigation will continue to establish the full sequence of events and gather additional evidence.
