PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
The Shilpkar Sabha, Nainital, expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the brutal murder of 18-year-old Dalit youth Ketan in Lambgaon, Tehri district. The sabha described the incident as a blot on humanity and a horrific result of the casteist mentality still prevalent in the society.
Notably, an 18-year-old youth from Dalit community had been allegedly beaten to death and his friend critically injured over his relationship with a minor girl from an upper-caste family. The deceased youth’s father claimed that iron nails had been found hammered into his body. .On the basis of the complaint lodged by the youth’s father, an FIR was registered under Section 103(1)/3 (4) BNS/3(2)(V) SC/ST Act and two accused were arrested. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, the senior superintendent of police, Tehri Garhwal, Shweta Choubey had handed over the investigation of the case to the circle officer, Chamba, Mahesh Lakhera.
He later inspected the crime scene and summoned the forensic unit team. The team collected crucial physical and scientific evidence from the scene. The statements of two witnesses were also recorded. Based on the investigation and evidence gathered, the accused identified as Yashveer Singh Panwar and Vidya Singh Pawar were found to be involved and were arrested. They were later presented before the court and remanded to judicial custody.
Condemning the brutal caste-based violence, the president of the Shilpkar Sabha, Nainital, Ramesh Chandra said that this heinous crime amounted to a severe blow to
the society’s concept of equality and justice. “The accused should be tried in a fast-track court and given the harshest possible punishment. Besides, the family of the deceased should be provided with Rs 50 lakh as financial assistance and a government job should be given to one member of the family,” he said.
He further demanded the victim’s family be provided with adequate security and the fear aroused in the Dalit community people in the area be allayed. He also warned of a vigorous State-wide agitation if the accused were not provided with exemplary punishment.
