Two Dalits killed over Rs 4 in Allahabad

Mangalore Today News Network

Allahabad, june 13, 2015: An argument over Rs 4 led to a clash in Allahabad’s Ghoorpur area Friday, leaving two Dalits dead and three injured, police said. The victims’ family retaliated by burning the flour mill owned by the accused, a Brahmin, police said.

Four persons have been arrested and security personnel have been deployed in Mohiuddipur village.

Police said Rajat Bharatiya (15) had gone to the mill, owned by Vashishtha Narayan Dubey, to buy flour. “He reached the mill around 6.30 am. While paying, he fell short by Rs 4. When Vashishtha insisted that he pay up, Rajat, who had a Rs 500 note, asked him to deduct the amount from it,” said a police official.


He added, “Vashishtha insisted that he pay the exact change. Rajat went home, returned with a Rs 20 note, and angrily handed it to Vashishtha. This led to an altercation.”

Police said Vashishtha’s son Rajesh Dubey hit Rajat on his head with a sharp object. Rajat collapsed and was rushed to Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Allahabad. Following this, word spread about the attack.

“Soon, Rajat’s family and relatives reached Dubey’s house armed with sticks. The family locked the door and ran upstairs. Rajesh then used his licenced double-barrel gun to fire at the mob that had gathered outside,” the official said.

“Two Dalit youths, Rahul Bharatiya (20) and his cousin Shubham alias Ashu Bharatiya (18), sustained bullet injuries in their stomachs. While Rahul died on the spot, Shubham succumbed on the way to the hospital,” the official said.

Two others were injured in the firing.

Police said the victims’ family torched the cowshed, the mill and a balcony in the Dubey house.

Senior police officers, including DIG (Allahabad Range) Bhagwan Swaroop, reached the spot with a contingent of security personnel to bring the situation under control.

Police said a murder case has been registered against Vashishtha and his four sons, Suresh, Rakesh, Rajesh and Sunny. The sons have been arrested.

“We have recovered the gun and four empty shells from the spot,” said SP (Trans-Yamuna) Ashutosh Mishra.

Mishra said there is no evidence so far to suggest that there was any enmity between the two families. “We initially thought such a minor issue could not have led to such major violence. But neither the victims’ family, nor the villagers indicated there was any old issue,” he said.

 

Courtesy: Indianexpress