Dalit Man Beaten, Held Hostage By Mob After Bike Accident In UP

A 20-year-old Dalit man was allegedly assaulted, abused, and held hostage after his motorcycle collided with another bike in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district, police reported on Sunday.

The victim, identified as Sangam Lal Gautam, was on his way home to Prayagraj's Handia on March 10 when the accident occurred. According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhimanyu Manglik, the other rider, Rishabh Pandey, was traveling in the wrong direction near the Berwa Paharpur area and crashed into Gautam's bike, leaving him with critical injuries.

As soon as Pandey discovered Gautam's caste, he, along with his father and around 10 unidentified men, allegedly started verbally abusing and attacking him, using caste-based slurs. They accused Gautam of riding under the influence and began physically assaulting him, SP Manglik told news agency PTI.

Gautam was then reportedly held hostage by Pandey, who demanded ₹20,000 as compensation for the damages to his bike. Hours later, the victim managed to contact his father, Narayan Das Gautam, who reached out to emergency services. Police intervened, rescued Gautam, and admitted him to a community health center for treatment.

Based on his complaint filed on March 22, a case was registered at the Koirauna police station against Rishabh Pandey, Pawan Pandey, and 10 unidentified individuals under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.

Previous Incidents of Caste-Based Violence in Uttar Pradesh
Last month, a Dalit man's wedding procession was allegedly attacked by upper-caste men in Bulandshahr for passing through their area while playing music. Police arrested at least five individuals following the attack.

The groom's baraat was stormed by a mob of 30 to 40 upper-caste men who objected to the music and the procession passing through their locality. Shouting casteist slurs, they attacked wedding guests with sticks, iron rods, and sharp weapons. The groom was pulled off his horse, and several guests, including women, sustained injuries. The attackers reportedly threatened the family and forced the procession to turn back.

In another incident in January, a Dalit man in Telangana's Suryapet district was allegedly murdered by his in-laws for marrying a woman against her family's wishes. His body was later discovered in a canal at Pillalamarri village.