Uttar Pradesh: Tension in Muzaffarnagar village after Dalit man beaten up

ANI photo

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Tension prevailed in a village in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday after a Dalit man was allegedly beaten up by a group of people, who recorded the assault and circulated the video online, police said.

The 22-year-old man was allegedly beaten up by the group of men, who are said to be associated with a Hindu outfit, in Kalyanpur village in the district on January 14, they said. Tension ran high as Dalits in the area protested following the incident and warned of starting an agitation.

SP (City) Ombir Singh told PTI that security has been tightened and additional police force has been deployed in the area. One of the four accused in the case has been arrested, Singh said, adding the remaining three would be arrested soon.

The police said that they were speaking to the victim and his family members. The accused are said to be the members of the dominant Gujjar community.

The FIR was registered under for attempt to murder and for doing deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and sections of SC/ST act.

The video clip shows that a bike helmet lying on the ground while a man beaten with sticks. At one point, the man was asked to chant Jai Mata Di. He was also seen folding hands before the assailants. Another assailant asked the youth why he criticise his gods when they didn’t criticise Ambedkar. Police are conducting raids to nab the accused.