A 35-year-old Dalit man, Manoj Gautam, was beaten to death near Ludhaura village in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district on the evening of October 17, allegedly by a group of men who intercepted him while he was returning home from a local market with his 10-year-old daughter.
Gautam was taken to a community health centre in Kasmanda, where he was declared dead on arrival. Police have registered a case and begun an investigation, The Quint reported.
Conflicting accounts of the motive
Gautam's family has alleged that casteist slurs were used during the attack, according to Maktoob Media. The police, however, have cited a long-standing family rivalry as the suspected motive. The First Information Report has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Four of the six accused have been arrested — Shubham Singh, Dhirendra Singh and Narendra Singh were named among them — and four police teams have been formed to apprehend the remaining accused.
History of dispute
Police confirmed that Gautam had previously filed a case against the accused under the SC/ST Act, and that the two sides were involved in a verbal altercation a day before the killing. Police sources said the prior complaint is being examined as part of the motive, and that the events leading up to the assault — including the previous day's altercation — are under review. No further details of the ongoing investigation have been released.
Calls for a fair probe
A video showing Gautam's grieving wife and children beside his body circulated widely on social media, drawing public attention to the case. Superintendent of Police Ankur Agarwal said the investigation is being conducted under the relevant legal provisions and that efforts are underway to bring all the accused to justice.
Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad demanded that all the accused be arrested immediately, a fair investigation conducted, and strict legal action ensured against the guilty. The Bhim Army–Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) said its local team has been supporting the victim's family since the incident. Police have assured that all aspects — including the allegations of casteist abuse and the history of rivalry — are being thoroughly investigated.
Sources: The Quint — Dalit man killed in Sitapur, four arrested, caste allegations raised
Gautam was taken to a community health centre in Kasmanda, where he was declared dead on arrival. Police have registered a case and begun an investigation, The Quint reported.
Conflicting accounts of the motive
Gautam's family has alleged that casteist slurs were used during the attack, according to Maktoob Media. The police, however, have cited a long-standing family rivalry as the suspected motive. The First Information Report has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Four of the six accused have been arrested — Shubham Singh, Dhirendra Singh and Narendra Singh were named among them — and four police teams have been formed to apprehend the remaining accused.
History of dispute
Police confirmed that Gautam had previously filed a case against the accused under the SC/ST Act, and that the two sides were involved in a verbal altercation a day before the killing. Police sources said the prior complaint is being examined as part of the motive, and that the events leading up to the assault — including the previous day's altercation — are under review. No further details of the ongoing investigation have been released.
Calls for a fair probe
A video showing Gautam's grieving wife and children beside his body circulated widely on social media, drawing public attention to the case. Superintendent of Police Ankur Agarwal said the investigation is being conducted under the relevant legal provisions and that efforts are underway to bring all the accused to justice.
Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad demanded that all the accused be arrested immediately, a fair investigation conducted, and strict legal action ensured against the guilty. The Bhim Army–Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) said its local team has been supporting the victim's family since the incident. Police have assured that all aspects — including the allegations of casteist abuse and the history of rivalry — are being thoroughly investigated.
Sources: The Quint — Dalit man killed in Sitapur, four arrested, caste allegations raised