What began as a seemingly ordinary festival greeting turned deadly in a village on the outskirts of Lucknow earlier this week, when a young Dalit man was allegedly stabbed to death following an altercation with members of an upper-caste Brahmin family.
The victim, identified as Suraj Gautam, 22, was attacked in Begariya village under the Dubagga police station area on March 4 after he wished neighbours “Happy Holi,” according to police and local media reports.
Witnesses and family members allege that the greeting triggered an argument with members of a Brahmin household, which escalated into violence. During the confrontation, a woman from the family allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Gautam multiple times.
He was rushed to a hospital with severe injuries but later succumbed to the wounds.
According to reports, the dispute erupted when Gautam greeted a neighbour during Holi celebrations. Some witnesses claim the greeting angered the upper-caste family, leading to a heated exchange.
During the altercation, Gautam sustained several stab wounds. Police say he was taken to a trauma centre but doctors declared him dead shortly afterwards.
The exact sequence of events remains under investigation.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.