Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad Meets Dalit Sisters in Mathura, Demands Rs 25 Lakh Compensation

Agra— Bhim Army chief and Lok Sabha MP Chandra Shekhar Azad on Friday met the family of two Dalit sisters whose weddings were called off following a violent clash with a group of upper-caste men in Mathura district. Azad demanded that the victims be given Rs 25 lakh each in compensation.

"In one lakh rupees, even a buffalo doesn't come. The victims should receive Rs 25 lakh each," said the Nagina MP, criticizing the authorities. "Those who claim they will protect everyone are not even uttering a single word about the incident," he added.

The attack occurred on February 21 in Karnawal village when the sisters, Manisha (19) and Rani (22), were returning from a salon after preparing for their wedding. As they entered the village, their car reportedly brushed against a bike belonging to one of the accused, triggering an altercation.

A group of upper-caste men allegedly attacked the vehicle, assaulted the sisters, and thrashed their relatives. Rani's paternal uncle, Ranjit, stated that members of the groom's family were also attacked when they tried to intervene.

Following the violence, the grooms, Devendra Singh and Arjun Singh, called off the wedding and left with their families, citing security concerns.

Based on a complaint filed by the sisters' father, Padam Singh, police registered a case against Lokesh Yadav, Rohtash, Shreepal, and 12 others under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 191 (rioting) and 109 (attempted murder), along with Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. All the accused were arrested following the incident.

Controversy Over Alleged Attack on Azad's Convoy

Later in the day, members of the Azad Samaj Party claimed that stones were pelted at Chandra Shekhar Azad's convoy while it was traveling from Karnawal village to Bhagat Nagariya in Surir, Mathura. However, Mathura Police dismissed the allegations.

"There was no stone pelting on his convoy. Let's make that crystal clear," said Mathura SSP Shailesh Kumar Pandey. "He was traveling with his supporters, and we had deployed security at the front and rear of his convoy. He also had his own security detail. No such incident took place. His convoy consisted of 25 to 30 vehicles, and we have not received any complaint from his side. CCTV footage has been reviewed, and no evidence of stone pelting has been found," Pandey added.