In Surat, Dalit man ‘flogged’ to death for ‘cutting foliage’ on private property

A Dalit man was allegedly flogged to death after he and a friend of his were accused of "cutting foliage" on a private property without permission, in a Surat village. Confirming the incident, which took place at Karadva on November 11, Assistant Commissioner of Police (J Division) AC Tarde said the police had arrested six men.

According to the police, Anil Rathod, 27, and Nilesh Rathod, 26, were at Krishna Seven Star Party Plot, located on the outskirts of Saniya Kande village in the Sachin area of Surat, where plot owner Vijay Maurya allegedly spotted the duo and accused them of theft.

Maurya and five others allegedly hurled casteist slurs at the two, kidnapped and took them to the Radhakrishna Party Plot in Karadva, where they were "tied to a pillar and flogged with wooden logs and electric cables”. Both mentioned Plots are commercially used to host social and cultural events.

While Anil was left severely injured, Nilesh managed to escape. Seeing Anil's condition, the six accused also fled. Nilesh then contacted Prakash Rathod (Anil’s brother-in-law), who went to the spot and found Anil unconscious.

Anil was taken to New Civil Hospital, where he was declared dead. Prakash, 25, a farm worker, lodged a complaint at the Dindoli police station against Vijay Maurya alias Sonu and others at the Dindoli police station on Wednesday.

The police registered an FIR charging the six with murder, illegal confinement, kidnapping, unlawful assembly and sections of the Atrocities Act. Later, Vijay Maurya, Rahul Maurya, Abhishek Maurya, Sumit Singh, Sujit Yadav and Mahendra Maurya were arrested in connection with the incident.

All six live in Saniya Kande but hail from Uttar Pradesh. "We have arrested six men and have started a probe," the ACP said. Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground co...

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