Lucknow/Kaushambi: Multiple cases of atrocities against Dalits this month have drawn attention to the growing crimes against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh. In the latest shocking case, three members of a family were killed in Mohideenpur village, which falls under the Sandipan Ghat police station of Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh. The deceased have been identified as Horilal (62), his pregnant daughter Brijkali (22), and Shivsagar (26), his son-in-law. The murders created unease in the area. The enraged villagers set the house of the accused on fire, further escalating the dispute. The police reached the spot and controlled the fire. According to the police, the killings were the result of a land feud between the two parties. The victims were sleeping outside their hut in the disputed land area when they were shot dead at 2 am on Thursday.

A relative of the deceased told the media that the accused, who belong to the Thakur community, used to threaten the victims to leave the area as they belong to the Pasi community and hence cannot live here.

Later in the day, two people were arrested for the killing. The arrested accused have been identified as Amar Singh and Amit Singh. A total of eight persons have been booked under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offense committed in the prosecution of a common object), 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Law Amendment Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

A Spate of Atrocities against Dalits in the State

Barely hours after the horrific incident in Kaushambi, a Dalit youth was stabbed to death, and his cousin was injured in Chilkahar village of Balia district. The victim has been identified as Sandeep Ram (34). The agitated villagers blocked the Balia-Lucknow highway, demanding the arrest of the accused. A case was registered against eight persons under various sections of the IPC.

Last week, on September 8, a Dalit woman was raped, filmed, and forced to eat beef by two men in Lakhimpur, while a Dalit youth was killed in Sultanpur when he asked for Rs 1200 in return for the work he had done.

In Jaunpur, Ayush Saroj, a Scheduled Caste boy studying in a school, died on September 9 after he was mercilessly beaten by the principal before being made to stand for hours in the sun when he asked for leave.

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekar condemned the recent killing in Kaushambi and targeted the state government over poor law and order and atrocities against Dalits. Chandrashekhar said, “The poor law and order of the state were exemplified last night in Kaushambi, where Hiralal, his pregnant daughter, and his son-in-law were shot dead.” BSP leader Ramji Gautam also targeted the UP government for poor law and order.