A minor Dalit boy named Aditya died by suicide after allegedly facing severe caste-based discrimination and harassment in his village in Basti, Uttar Pradesh. The police have registered a case under relevant sections, and an investigation is underway.
According to Circle Officer (CO) Pradeep Kumar Tripathi, the boy hanged himself, and the cause is suspected to be “mutual differences.” However, Aditya’s family has claimed that caste discrimination and harassment were the main factors that led to his death.
Vijay Kumar, the boy’s uncle, shared the family’s account, saying that Aditya had been invited to a birthday party in the village, where he was subjected to abuse. “He was stripped naked, beaten, and even urinated on,” Kumar stated. When the family attempted to file a complaint at the police station, their efforts were reportedly ignored. The family alleges that despite approaching the authorities, their complaint was not registered for three days, leading to further harassment of Aditya, which may have contributed to his suicide.
The incident took place on December 20, and it was only the following day that Aditya came home and shared the details of the abuse. His family claims that the lack of timely action from the authorities and continued harassment pushed him to take this drastic step.
The police are currently investigating the matter, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call the Sneha Foundation at 044-24640050, Tele Manas at 14416 (available 24×7), or the iCall helpline at 022-25521111 (available Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm) for emotional support.
