‘Attacked, held hostage’: Mob assaults Dalit man on knowing his caste after minor bike accident in UP

A 20-year-old Dalit man was reportedly assaulted, mistreated, and taken captive following a collision between his bike and another motorcycle in Badohi district of Uttar Pradesh, police stated on Sunday. The individual, named Sangam Lal Gautam, was returning to his residence in Handia, Prayagraj on March 10 when the incident occurred.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhimanyu Manglik stated that the other motorcyclist, Rishabh Pandey, was riding in the wrong direction near the Berwa Paharpur region and collided with Gautam’s motorcycle, resulting in severe injuries.

 Additionally, the victim was reportedly taken hostage by Rishabh, who sought ₹20,000 as payment for the damage to his motorcycle. Several hours later, Gautam was able to get in touch with his father, Narayan Das Gautam, who then notified emergency services, according to the police.

Sangam Lal Gautam was saved by the police and taken to a community health center. Following his complaint on March 22, a case was filed at the Koirauna police station against Rishabh Pandey, Pawan Pandey, and ten other unknown individuals under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit (BNS) as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

SP Manglik stated that an inquiry into the issue has been initiated. Only last month, police reported that upper caste men allegedly assaulted a Dalit man’s wedding procession for traversing their area and playing music in Bulandshahr, UP.

At least five individuals were apprehended following the filing of an FIR in the case, as they stated. In late January, a Dalit man was reportedly murdered by his in-laws in an alleged hate crime for marrying a woman contrary to her family’s desires in Telangana’s Suryapet district. The body of the man was discovered in a canal in Pillalamarri village.