Dalit BSc student kills self after caste-based assault in Uttar Pradesh

AGRA: A 20-year-old Dalit BSc student allegedly died by suicide in his room in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district on Sunday, a day after he was accused of harassing a girl at a library, assaulted and humiliated by a group of men upon learning his caste. Deceased Atin Kumar was a resident of Nagla Bilautia village under Shikohabad police station.

A one-page suicide note recovered from Atin’s room mentioned harassment and assault at the library. Villagers said injury marks were visible on Atin’s body, and that there was a fracture in one of his fingers.

Police on Monday said three accused were arrested, after a case was registered following a police complaint by the deceased’s father, Ajay Kumar. An FIR was registered under BNS sections 103 (murder), 191 (rioting), 352 (intentional insults designed to provoke breach of peace), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), and appropriate sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, against six people, including two named accused -- library operator Atul Sikera and Dhruv Yadav.

Kumar said his son regularly visited the RM Library after college. On Saturday evening, some locals at the library allegedly accused Atin of harassing a girl and assaulted him after asking about his caste. “My son suffered injuries in the assault and came back home humiliated. He did not share the ordeal with the family and was found dead on Sunday,” stated Ajay Kumar in his complaint to the police.

Atin was the only son of his parents, both of whom are specially abled. Due to the family’s poor financial conditions, Atin also managed a small grocery shop to support the family.

Shikohabad DSP Amreesh Kumar, who is also investigating officer of the case, told TOI, “Three accused -- Atul Sikera, Dhruv Yadav and Ritik Yadav -- have been arrested. Police teams are working to nab the other absconding accused.”