Dalit man dies after being ‘pushed into boiling syrup for seeking wages’ in UP

BAREILLY: A 36-year-old Dalit labourer died of burn injuries after he was allegedly pushed into a pot of boiling sugarcane syrup when he asked for his pending wages in Lakhimpur Kheri, with the family accusing the owner of the crusher and two others of assaulting him after refusing payment. Kuldeep Kumar, who suffered severe burns in the March 11 incident, died during treatment on Tuesday. According to the FIR lodged by his father, Khem Karam, Kuldeep had been working for the past five months at a sugarcane crusher owned by Sajid Khan. He alleged that on March 11, at around 4.30pm, Kuldeep asked for his dues, after which Sajid Khan, along with Rashid Khan and Hamid Khan, refused to pay him, abused him and assaulted him.In the complaint, Khem Karam alleged, “They pushed my son into the boiling sugarcane syrup, leaving him badly burnt. They first took him to a hospital and informed us later. From the district hospital, he was referred to a civil hospital, but after a day of treatment, they got him discharged and shifted him to a private facility, where treatment was later stopped.”Kheri ASP Amit Kumar Rai told TOI, “We have heard both sides and found that the incident took place on March 11. Kuldeep had been undergoing treatment at different medical facilities since then, and the family lodged the complaint only after his death. We are examining all angles.”An FIR has been registered at Neemgaon police station under BNS sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous means), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), along with relevant sections of SC/ST Act.Nasir Khan, cousin of the main accused Sajid Khan, denied the allegations and said the family had presented an accident as an assault. He told TOI, “It was an accident. Kuldeep fell; he was not pushed. The family has fabricated the incident. The people named in the FIR were not present at the spot. We bore the victim’s medical expenses and have the hospital bills.”