In Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit youth, distressed by caste-based harassment, attempted suicide by setting himself on fire. After he refused to perform manual labor, the farm owner subjected him to casteist slurs and physically assaulted him, leaving the youth critically injured. He has since been referred to Delhi for treatment. The police have arrested the accused and registered a case under the SC/ST Act.
A spine-chilling video has emerged from the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, showing a Dalit youth openly dousing himself with petrol and setting himself ablaze. In a matter of moments, the youth was engulfed in flames; bystanders struggled to extinguish the fire and rushed the critically injured Dalit youth to a hospital for treatment. Given the severity of his condition, doctors subsequently referred him to Delhi.
According to reports, the victim—a Dalit youth—worked as a laborer on the farm of a farmer belonging to the Rajput community. It is alleged that on Friday morning, the farm owner asked the victim to load a cart with flowers. When the victim refused, the accused—in the presence of others—hurled casteist slurs at him and physically assaulted him. Driven by deep humiliation and distress over this incident, the victim poured petrol over himself in an attempt to commit suicide.
Himanshu, a 22-year-old resident of Gangdhadi village within the Khatauli Kotwali police station area, sprinkled petrol on himself and set himself on fire. The incident was captured by a CCTV camera installed at a nearby house and subsequently went viral on social media. Himanshu sustained severe injuries in the incident and was admitted to a hospital for treatment; however, due to his critical condition, doctors referred him to Delhi.
What Did the Victim’s Family Say?
The victim’s family alleges that Himanshu worked as a laborer on the farm of a fellow villager named Tinku (alias Gaurav Rajput). Yesterday, the farm owner, Tinku, asked Himanshu to load a cart with flowers in the field. However, when Himanshu refused to do so, Tinku—in the presence of others—verbally abused him using caste-based slurs and physically assaulted him. It is further alleged that, driven by deep distress and humiliation, Himanshu attempted to end his life late that night by setting himself on fire.
Bittu, the brother of the victim—a young Dalit man named Himanshu—alleges that the farm owner, Tinku (alias Gaurav Rajput), would frequently subject Himanshu to verbal abuse and physical violence. Meanwhile, acting on a written complaint filed by the victim’s family, the police have registered a case against the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and have taken the accused into custody.
**Accused Person Arrested**
CO (Circle Officer) of Khatauli, Ramashish Yadav, stated that the police received information around 10:45 PM regarding a young man named Himanshu (son of Bedu) who had set himself on fire. Acting immediately upon this report, the police rushed to the scene. With the assistance of his family members, Himanshu was admitted to a hospital, where his condition is currently stable, and he is receiving the best possible medical treatment. Upon visiting the scene to conduct an inquiry into the incident, it came to light that Himanshu had been involved in an altercation with another young man from his own village named Gaurav (alias Tinku). Tinku (alias Gaurav) had physically assaulted him, and it was this act of violence that caused Himanshu such distress that he set himself on fire. In connection with this matter, the accused has been taken into custody, and an investigation is currently underway.
Courtesy: Hindi News