A young member of the Dalit community was reportedly fatally attacked by a group of individuals due to a longstanding dispute in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district. Police have disclosed that eight individuals have been detained in connection with the incident, which transpired on Thursday. The opposition party Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BJP) have criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration for its handling of the incident.
In response, the BJP affirmed that swift action was taken and expressed skepticism about the opposition's stance. The incident has ignited political discussions, particularly as the state's assembly elections are approaching later this year. The victim, Nitin Ahirwar, aged between 18 and 20, was attacked on Thursday and succumbed to his injuries during transit to a Sagar hospital. Consequently, the charges were elevated to murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, accompanied by provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as reported by PTI.
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Authorities revealed that the deceased had a history of legal entanglements, including allegations of extortion, assault, and theft. The incident, stemming from a longstanding enmity, initially led to the victim's family postponing his last rites due to their dissatisfaction with the pace of arrests. However, reassurances from the district collector regarding governmental support led them to eventually perform the rites. Eight suspects have been arrested, and a search for others involved is ongoing.
The victim's sister claimed that her brother had been violently attacked due to pressure for a compromise in an earlier harassment case. The police clarified that she had previously filed a First Information Report (FIR) against four individuals in 2019, resulting in their arrest. The case remains under judicial review.
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Prominent political figures such as Mallikarjin Kharge of Congress and Mayawati of BSP condemned the incident, with Kharge highlighting alleged regional disparities in addressing such incidents. MP Congress chief Kamal Nath also called for compensation for the victim's family. In response, the BJP asserted its commitment to upholding the rule of law and its prompt response to crimes within its jurisdiction.
Tensions have further escalated as various political factions debate the situation, highlighting issues of social injustice and the handling of crimes against marginalized communities.
