Eight upper caste members, arrested for the murder of four members of a Dalit family in Prayagraj district, were on Monday released while police detained three Dalit youths. One of them was sent to judicial custody on Monday, while police sources said two others would be released soon.
Police officials did not verify the evidence they had against Dalit youths whom they now suspect of crimes including rape, or with respect to alleged accomplices. The bodies of the four, including a couple and their children, were found at his house on Thursday. His family had accused 11 people of threatening the family and helping the police. On Thursday, an FIR was registered in the names of 11 people and the police arrested eight members of the upper caste. Later two police personnel were suspended Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the family and the Yogi Adityanath government faced heat, with the opposition accusing him of being “anti-Dalit”.
The family of the Dalit youth said that he was detained by the police on Saturday evening. On Monday, a 19-year-old youth, who worked as a laborer, was produced in the court and sent to judicial custody. Two other youths from the 19-year-old village, located about 2 km away from the slain Dalit family, were also picked up with him. On Monday, their families gathered outside the local police station and asked when the two would be released.
an officer told Indian Express That both, 17 and 20, would be released soon as they had found no evidence.
In a statement on Sunday, Prayagraj area ADG Prem Prakash had claimed that the 19-year-old was stalking the girl, who was raped and killed. “He was harassing the girl… Based on the last message and circumstantial evidence, he was arrested.”
However, on Monday, a senior official who was part of the investigation told The Indian Express: “We don’t have enough time with the accused as we have to monitor law and order as well… we are waiting for forensic and DNA reports.” are.” Pressing on the evidence so far, the officer said, “It is part of the investigation, I cannot disclose anything.”
On Monday, neither Prakash nor Prayagraj DIG Sarvashresht Tripathi could be reached for a comment. Tripathi was “on leave”.
Relatives of the slain Dalit family say that the police is trying to save the upper caste accused. “How can a boy (19-year-old) kill four people on his own? And if others were involved, where are they, who are they?… And if the boy had a problem with my niece, he would have killed her, why all three?” said the brother of the slain man. While her niece, who was raped and murdered, was previously reported to be a minor, police say they have found evidence that she was 23 years old.
The elder sister of the 19-year-old, who was caught by the police, said she was being targeted because she was Dalit and poor. Opposing the police’s claims of chasing the woman, she said: “He was at home the day the murder took place … He is being made a scapegoat because the police want to save the upper caste men,” he said.
The mother of a 17-year-old Dalit youth who was taken into custody by the police said, “My son cannot do anything like this.”
Relatives of the slain Dalit family say they are concerned about their safety after the release of the upper castes. “They will come back for revenge.”
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