Dalit Teen Charged With Theft Found Dead; Family Accuses Cops

Mangalore Today News Network

Haryana, Oct 23, 2015:  A 15-year-old boy from a Dalit or underprivileged caste family was found dead on Thursday with wounds all over his body in Haryana, where two children of another Dalit family were burnt alive in their home just days before.

The teen, Govind, was found hanging near his house. His family alleges that he was charged with the theft of a pigeon by members of a different caste and beaten brutally by the police.

Relatives say the police took away the boy for questioning and when his mother went to get him, they first demanded Rs. 10,000 and then Rs. 5,000 more for his release. When the boy’s mother went with the money, they allege, she was told that he had escaped.

Govind’s brother said: "When my mother went to the police station and asked, they said he had run away. If someone runs away from police custody, what is the point of the police being there? In the morning, we found his dead body. They took our money and killed him."

After Govind was found dead, his family and relatives kept the body on the road and blocked road and rail traffic to demand action against the policemen who had allegedly beaten him.

"The boy had no father, no grandfather or uncle. His mother is a widow. There is no justice...His arms and legs were fractured," said the boy’s aunt, sitting next to his sobbing mother.

The family removed the body and agreed to cremate him only after the government stepped in and promised action.

"People here are saying that he has died after been beaten up by the Police. But some are saying that he was beaten up by people who carry out some transport business here. Whoever is guilty, be it a police officer or anyone, will be arrested," said Vinod Kumar, a senior police officer.

On Monday in another village in Haryana, a toddler and his 11-month-old sister died after their house was set on fire, allegedly by members of an upper caste community.

 

Courtesy: NDTV