A Dalit farmer and his wife were brutally attacked in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, over a cattle grazing dispute, police said on Sunday. The attack involved sticks, iron rods, and caste-based insults.
The incident happened on Friday morning in Anaich village under Oonjh Police Station. Six people have been charged in connection with the attack.
Deepak Kumar Pasi, a landless Dalit farmer who grows urad (black gram) on another villager’s field, complained when a local villager’s cattle grazed in his crop area. Deepak, his wife Sumitra, elder brother, and mother were then assaulted.
Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik said, “When Deepak complained about Rajaram Yadav’s cattle grazing in his field, Rajaram became angry. He used casteist slurs and, with others, beat Deepak with sticks and iron rods.”
The complaint also says Sumitra was dragged by her hair across the field, beaten, and her clothes were torn.
Deepak and Sumitra were seriously injured and admitted to hospital. Four other family members were treated for minor injuries and released.
The police have registered a case against Rajaram Yadav, Dilajeet Yadav, Arvind Yadav, Rajendra Yadav, Parvati Devi, and Tara Devi based on Deepak’s complaint.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.