UP: Dalit youth mercilessly beaten by 3 men, forced to chant Jai Mata Di

Violence against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh continues as a 27-year-old man was mercilessly beaten by three attackers with sticks in Muzaffarnagar last Sunday.

Lucknow, Jan 17: Violence against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh continues as a 27-year-old man was mercilessly beaten by three attackers with sticks in Muzaffarnagar last Sunday.

The case came to light after a video capturing the violent incident went viral on social media. The video shows the three assailants not only beating the victim with sticks, but hurled abuses kicked and forced him to chant "Jai Mata Di".

Those who attacked the man alleged that he had insulted Hindu gods. The video was taken by a fourth man who was a part of the gang who attacked the Dalit youth. After the video went viral, the police lodged a First Information Report (FIR) and launched a manhunt to nab the culprits, stated media reports.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Senior Superintendent of Police Anant Deo said an FIR under "strict sections" had been lodged at the Purkazi police station.

"We are speaking to the victim and his family members and the accused have been identified as three-four Gujjar residents of the area. The incident took place in the Purkazi police station area," the SSP said.

An FIR was registered under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and sections of the SC/ST Act and IT Act, police said.

In the video, the victim's hands were seen folded and his helmet removed while the attackers beat him and forced him to chant, Jai Mata Di.

The video shows, one of the assailants telling the victim, "We don't criticise your Ambedkar, do we? Why did you do it to ours?"

Senior police officials investigating the matter told reporters that police teams are conducting raids to nab the accused. Cops assured that arrests will be made soon in the case.

Recently two Dalit men were beaten up by a mob in Ballia, UP for allegedly stealing cattle. The "animal lovers" did not stop at that.

The mob also partially tonsured the heads of the two alleged cow thieves as a punishment. Later, the duo was seen walking on the streets of Ballia holding placards saying "gai chor" (cow thieves).

OneIndia News