Dalit youth beaten to death for opposing liquor sale

Our Correspondent

Abohar, May 21

A Dalit youth was allegedly beaten to death and his hands crushed on Sunday night for opposing open sale of liquor in Mirzewala Mer village near Hanumangarh.

Jan Kranti Morcha convener Pooja Chhabra said she had informed Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria about the incident. “Kataria has assured suitable action against the accused. I will meet him on Tuesday,” she said.

Security has been beefed up with the Station House Officers from six police stations and around 100 other police personnel camping in the area.

In the FIR lodged at 3 am on Monday, Hakim Nayak, brother of the deceased, alleged that a dozen jeep-borne persons had barged into the house of Mohinder Nayak, 33, at 8 pm on Sunday and started beating him up as he had opposed the sale of liquor on the village streets. When his wife Suman intervened, she was also reportedly attacked.

The miscreants had allegedly dragged Mohinder out of the house and thrashed him to death. Before leaving, they allegedly ran the vehicle over his hands. Some of the accused were identified as Dholu Bhadoo, his brother Naresh Bhadoo, Bhim Jakhar and Sonu. Villagers alleged that they carried lathis, iron rods and a pistol. Mohinder’s relatives and other villagers sat around his body and refused a post-mortem till the accused were arrested.

Zila Parishad ex-vice chairperson Shabnam Godara, BJP Mahila Morcha district president Gulab Sinwar, CPM leader Jagjit Jaggi, Dalip Birat of the Bahujan Samaj Party and some other senior activists reached the village to express solidarity with Mohinder’s family.

Wife attacked too 

• At 8 pm on Sunday, a dozen jeep-borne persons had barged into the house of Mohinder Nayak and started beating him up. 
• When his wife Suman intervened, she was also reportedly attacked.