Dalit youth set on fire in UP for refusing packet of gutka

Mathura, Aug. 4: A dalit youth was allegedly set on fire by two men in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district after he refused to shared a packet of “gutka”, police said on Saturday.

The two accused allegedly assaulted Pardesi first, poured kerosene and set him on fire in Satoha village last night, said deputy superintendent of police Vinay Singh Chauhan.

People rushed towards him and doused the fire. Pardesi received nine per cent burns and has been hospitalised. He is out of danger, Chauhan said.

Search is on for the two unidentified accused, who are absconding, he added.

The incident comes after Dr Seema, a deputy chief veterinary officer was denied drinking water in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi due to her dalit identity on Tuesday, July 31.

The incident occurred in the Ambawa Poorab village in Manjhanpur block, Lucknow, where she had gone to the village after she received directions from the district panchayat raj officer in order to review the developmental work.

According to a report, Dr Seema alleged that 2 village heads to give her water because she belonged from a dalit community and also directed other villagers to not to give her water.

She further said that she was denied water for twoanda- half- hours despite being a diabetic patient, due to which her arms and limbs began to tremble.