india

Updated: May 06, 2019 10:28 IST

The Uttarakhand police on Sunday promised action as the family of a 21-yearold Dalit man said he died nine days after upper-caste men allegedly thrashed him for having dinner seated on a chair ahead of them at a wedding in Tehri Garhwal district on April 26.

Circle officer Uttam Singh, who is investigating Jitendra Das’s alleged murder, said they have initiated a probe after registering a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

“During the investigations, we tried to find any eyewitness but none came forward. The sole eyewitness seems to be the deceased himself. After his death on Sunday, the accused would now be also booked for murder,” he said. “Further action would be taken after his post-mortem examination report is received.”

Uttarakhand’s director general of police (law and order) Ashok Kumar said no accused would be spared and strict action would be taken.

Jitendra Das’s family said he was hospitalised in Dehradun, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, since April 27. Das, a carpenter, was the sole bread-earner for his family.

Jitendra Das’s uncle, Elam Das, said they came to know about the incident the next morning when his mother found him unconscious and rushed him to a nearby hospital. “…we had all gone to attend the wedding of one of our distant relatives. Jitendra had gone to have his dinner while we were at the other side of the [wedding] venue. After having our dinner, we returned to our homes separately.”

He said one of Jitendra Das’s friends, who tried to save him, told them that he was thrashed at the wedding venue and on his way home. “He told us that… he was having dinner seated on a chair before the accused uppercaste men. Seeing him sitting on a chair, they got enraged and kicked his plate before kicking him off the chair using expletives for daring to sit in front of them.”

Elam said the accused then assaulted his nephew after which he left. “They did not end the matter there and followed him to brutally assault him again.”

Jitendra’s cousin, Pritam, who was also present at the wedding, said he was hit on his head and private parts. “He was so badly beaten up that he barely managed to reach his house… Next day, when his mother went to wake him, they came to know about it [assault].” He said Jitendra was rushed to a nearby hospital, which referred him to Dehradun.

“His sister finally lodged a complaint against seven accused identified as Gajendra, Soban, Kushal, Gabbar, Gambhir, Harbir Singh and Hukam Singh. A case was registered against them in Kempty police station but none of them has been arrested so far.”

He claimed the “accused are freely moving in the village and pressurising them for a compromise.” “We want all of them to be nabbed and given stringent possible punishment.”