Pregnant Dalit woman attacked for defiling bucket, dies

On October 21, Savitri’s condition worsened and she fainted. Savitri’s husband Kumar called for an ambulance to take her to the hospital. When she reached the hospital, she was declared brought dead.

A pregnant Dalit woman died few days after she was allegedly attacked by upper caste family for defiling 'bucket' at Khetalpur Bhansoli village in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh.

On October 15, an over-eight-months pregnant Savitri Devi was collecting garbage from homes while she was at one of the homes, a rickshaw caused her to lose balance and 'touch' a bucket belonging to Anju, an upper caste Thakur.

Anju punched her repeatedly in the stomach and banged her head on a wall. She kept accusing Savitri of defiling her bucket by touching it. Later, Anju's son Rohit also joined in and beat her with sticks, reported Indian Express quoting Kusuma Devi, Savitri's neighbour.

On October 21, Savitri's condition worsened and she fainted. When Savitri reached the hospital, she was declared brought dead. The post-mortem report stated "antemortem head injury" as the cause of her death.

Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar said: "Since the post-mortem says that a head injury caused her death, we have now added IPC sections 304 A (death by negligence), 316 (causing the death of the unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide) and provisions of SC/ST Act on Anju and her son." Police likely to arrest arrest Anju and her son soon.

A Dalit from the village admits to frequent fights with upper castes in the village. "The relationship between the Thakurs and Dalits in the village is not very good. This incident has given them a chance to target us," according to a villager.

OneIndia News