Dalit minor thrashed, humiliated for drinking water at handpump

KANPUR: A 16-year-old boy belonging to Dalit community was beaten by upper caste men for drinking water from a public handpump and touching a bucket kept there. The assailants stripped him of his clothes, punished him and beat him mercilessly. They spat on a shoe and forced him to lick it, filled the shoe with water and made him drink from it. Later, they sprinkled Ganga water around the handpump to purify it. FIR in the incident that took place on May 2 was registered on Saturday.

The boy’s father, who came to his rescue, was also beaten by the group. The minor’s hand was broken in the assault. He was first taken to a private hospital and later admitted to Ursula Hospital. Police registered a case against four persons based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family.

The incident was reported from Jhakhra-Sambharpur village under Sachendi police station area. Police said that on May 2, the 16-year-old boy, son of a farm labourer, resident of Jhakhra Sambharpur village, went to drink water from a nearby handpump and as soon as he touched the bucket kept there, Sanjay, his brother Deepak and their associates Sagar and Patiya, who were already present at the spot, stopped him. The four hurled caste-based abuses at him and accused him of polluting the bucket.

The accused fist punished the boy and then beat him mercilessly with sticks and kicked and punched him. They stripped him and forced him to lick a shoe that was spat on and was then made to drink water poured into the shoe.

When the minor’s father reached the spot, the accused assaulted him too. The father suffered broken ribs in the attack, while the minor sustained serious injuries to his hand.

Police registered a case against Sanjay, Deepak, Sagar and Patiya. ACP Panki Manoj Kumar Singh said the matter was under investigation and action would be taken on the basis of findings and evidence.