Dalits returning from Maya’s meet attacked, 1 killed, 5 injured

Saharanpur was on the boil again with fresh violence in the district claiming one more life.

Some persons had set fire to the houses of upper caste Thakurs in Shabbirpur village ahead of the arrival of BSP chief Mayawati there, police sources said. District officials rushed to the scene and pacified members of the Thakur community. But, later, some unidentified, sword wielding persons attacked a Bolero car of BSP supporters, who had come from Sarsawa.

Sources said the attackers fired their guns and wielded batons, killing Ashish (24) on the spot and injuring five others.

The injured have been admitted to the district hospital.

Earlier in the day, BSP chief Mayawati came down heavily on the BJP and held it responsible for spreading caste violence in the state.

Addressing a rally at Shabbirpur village, the BSP chief held the Yogi Adityanath government responsible for creating rift between the Dalits and the Thakurs and claimed her party ruled Uttar Pradesh four times but “didn’t let a single episode of communal violence to occur and maintained communal harmony.” Dalits claimed that the Thakurs prevented them from installing a statue of BR Ambedkar on the premises of Ravidas temple in the village. Then on May 5, a Dalit group objected to a procession of Thakurs to mark the birth anniversary of Rajput king Maharana Pratap, triggering violence in which one person died and over 15 were injured. Thakurs of the village allegedly burnt Dalit hutments after the death of a Thakur youth during the clashes.

Mayawati urged both Dalits and upper castes in the village not to fall into the trap of those who wanted to benefit from their clashes. She announced compensation of ₹50,000 to the families whose houses were burnt and ₹25,000 for the injured.