Dalit’s beating clip goes viral as Gujarat celebrates Founding Day

Devbhoomi Dwarka (Gujarat) : About a year and a half after the infamous Una Dalit flogging case, an assault on a Dalit villager in Saurashtra region of Gujarat went viral on the social media on Tuesday, the Founding Day of the western state.

In the video clipping, Devshibhai Roshiya of Surajkaradi village in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, can be seen lying on the ground and three persons beating him with sticks. He was later saved due to the intervention of an elderly person.

Police identified the two accused as Sikandar Pir Khan and Salman Pir Khan while one remained unidentified. One of the accused is a son of the victim’s neighbour Pir Khan Umarkhan Pathan, whose family lives opposite Devshibhai Roshiya’s house in Surajkaradi.

Police sources said an FIR was got registered by Devshibhai on April 26 under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against 17 named members of the Pathan family, including women and children, and five unnamed persons for barging into his house, snatching money from him and using abusive language.

When the accused came to know about the FIR, they caught hold of Devshibhai and thrashed him in front of his house.

Devbhoomi Dwarka Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand said: “The incident occurred in Surajkaradi in Mithapur area around 9.30-10 a.m. on April 28. The Local Crime Branch is looking for three accused, who are neighbours of the victim. The investigation is being carried out by Deputy Superintendent of Police (SC/ST Division) R.K. Patel.”

“In the past too, both sides were involved in altercations and lodged complaints against each other. As soon as we came to know about the crime, we registered a complaint.”

Police security has been provided to Devshibhai, who is admitted in a hospital.

Updated on May 01, 2018 at 20:26 IST | Published on: May 1, 2018 at 18:16 IST

IANS