It is alleged that the accused were incensed by a photo uploaded on social media by Jitendra Palshowinghis mustache. After some recce and an opportune time, he was murdered by stabbing from behind.

Rajasthan – While politicians are busy justifying their politics in the name of Dalits, the reality on the ground is different. In Rajasthan, a Dalit youth was brutally knifed to death because he was a Dalit and was fond of keeping a well-trimmed mustache.

What is the whole issue about?

Jitendra Pal Meghwal, son of Devaram Meghwal and a resident of Barwa in Rajasthan's Pali district, was working as a Covid health assistant at Bali Hospital. On Tuesday, March 15, at around quarter past three, Jitendra along with his fellow workers was going down Sesli Marg in Bali town towards the village. Two people, who had been following Jitendra(Suraj Singh Rajpurohit and Ramesh Singh) stabbed him in the back from behind. When Jitendra fell off his bike, they stabbed Jitendra several times with a knife, due to which he nearly succumbed on the spot. But the stabbing was so severe that he died while being taken to Sumerpur for treatment.

The local people have alleged that Jitendra's photo on social media showing his mustache was a sore sight for the accused, and they traveled 800 km from Surat on a bike to kill him. The accused had made preparations for the stabbing a day earlier by doing a recce of Jitendra's comings and goings.

According to the information, the police had previously been notified of a brawl between Jitendra and the accused. Following this, the accused had moved to Surat in Gujarat. Also after some time, Jitendra became employed as a Covad health assistant in Bali Hospital.

After getting the job, Jitendra Pal's lifestyle changed, and he used to upload photos on social media that displayed his mustache.

The family's allegations

According to a media report inThe Quint, Jitendra Pal's family alleged that Jitendra Meghwal was killed because he was maintaining a good-looking personality though he was a Dalit. While dealing with the matter, on Thursday the police arrested the accused, Suraj Singh and Ramesh Singh, from Doodhwa village in Pachpadra tehsil, Barmer district.

As told by Jitendra Pal's friends

While talking to The Mooknayak, Jitendra Pal's friend Ashok said that due to casteism, Jitendra Pal's lifestyle had already led to his being assaulted previously. Despite settling the matter, the accused had now eventually murdered Jitendra Pal. "The photo posted on social media showing Jitendra Pal flaunting his mustache incensed the accused, and because of which he has been murdered. Jitendra Pal's family members should get justice." Ashok said

The police's version

Regarding the matter, Pali SP Rajan Dushyant told The Mooknayak, "Special teams were instituted to arrest the accused — Suraj Singh, son of Babu Singh, and Ramesh Singh, son of Shankar Singh Rajpurohit, and residents of Barwa." In a tweet on the matter, Rajasthan Police has informed that a case has been registered regarding the matter under sections 219/22u/s 143, 323, 341, 504, 506, 354, 379 of the IPC and the SC/ST Act. He further said that legal proceedings were ongoing after due investigation of the matter.

Also according to the Rajasthan Police, "Jitendra Pal murder case has no link between a member of the Dalit community wearing a mustache or having style. The incident of murder has been caused due to mutual rivalry in the case registered in the year 2020. Both the main accused in the murder case have been taken into custody."

People come together on social media for justice for Jitendra

As soon as the information about Jitendra Pal Meghwal's murder appeared on social media, a Twitter trend #JusticeForJitendraMeghwal was started with the people demanding justice for him.

Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan wrote on the matter, "Dalit Jitendra Meghwal was murdered in Rajasthan simply for keeping a mustache. You need to think again about your choice."

Journalist and founder of The Mooknayak, Meena Kotwal, posted on the matter, "This Dalit youth is Jitendra Pal Meghwal, he was murdered just because he kept a mustache. Such [incidents] have continued to happen unabated for centuries but no one's blood boils over them because Dalit lives do not have any value here. Where are those who have been shedding tears on the Kashmir Files?"