A Dalit youth died in clashes between Dalits and Rajputs in two villages of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The clashes also left several others injured.
Police arrested three people in connection with the killing of the Dalit youth in Uldepur village under Ganga Nagar police station.
The clash started in the village when a group of Rajput youths reportedly thrashed three Dalit youths who had gone to see Kanwar procession on Wednesday night.
In retaliation, a group of Dalits allegedly went to the place where the Rajputs and entered into a clash with the other group. At least six persons from both sides sustained injuries in the clash. One of them, 19-year-old Rohit, succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the hospital.
“Three people responsible for Rohit’s killing have been arrested. We are trying to identify more miscreants involved in the violence,” said SP (Rural) Rajesh Kumar.
Rohit’s death enraged the Dalits who then blocked the road with his dead body at Ambedkar crossing in the village. They refused to perform last rites until police arrested the accused. It was only then that three accused were arrested in connection with Rohit’s death.
In another incident, a group of Rajput youths allegedly thrashed Dalits in village Kasar of Sardhana area on Thursday following an alleged attempted molestation of a Rajput girl by a Dalit boy.
Dalits approached police to lodge their complaint but the cops reportedly refused to do so.
SP (Rural) Rajesh Kumar is camping in the village along with force of different police stations.
Efforts are being made to keep the situation under control. A heavy police force has been deployed in both the villages to prevent further clashes between the two communities.