A suspected case of caste-based violence has emerged in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal district after an 18-year-old Dalit student allegedly died following an assault linked to his friendship with a minor girl from an upper-caste family.
The victim, identified as Ketan Lal, was allegedly attacked along with his friend, Diwakar Dimri, in the Lambgaon area of Pratapnagar block. Police said the incident took place on the night of June 8.
Ketan later succumbed to his injuries, while Diwakar remains under treatment with serious injuries.
Family Alleges Night-Long Assault
According to the complaint filed by Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, the accused called his son and friend to the girl’s house late at night before allegedly locking them in a room and assaulting them for hours.
Dhanpal claimed he received a phone call on Monday morning from a man identified as Yashbir Singh Panwar, the girl’s father.
“The caller told me that he and his family had beaten my son and his friend badly and that they would throw him into a stream,” Dhanpal alleged in the FIR.
The father said he rushed to the location and found both boys critically injured. Ketan was taken to a hospital but died on the way.
Allegations of Torture and Caste Abuse
The family has made serious allegations of torture during the assault. Dhanpal claimed that iron nails were hammered into his son’s legs and that casteist slurs were used against him.
“My son told me on the way to the hospital that the girl had called him to meet her at home. As soon as they reached, family members caught them and beat them throughout the night,” he alleged.
The family also said a video showing the injuries was handed over to the police.
Ketan, a Class 12 student from Deval village, had reportedly been friends with the girl for around six months.
Police Arrest Girl’s Father and Grandfather
Police have arrested the girl’s father, Yashbir Singh Panwar, and grandfather, Vidyadutt Panwar, in connection with the case.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shweta Chaubey said the girl’s family had earlier objected to the friendship.
“Her father had previously spoken to the boy’s father and asked him not to allow his son to talk to his daughter. On Sunday night, he and others allegedly committed the crime,” Chaubey said.
She added that police are waiting for the post-mortem report to determine the exact nature and severity of injuries.
Case Registered Under Murder and SC/ST Act
Police have registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder charges, along with Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests could follow.
Demand for Strict Action
The incident has triggered outrage in the area, with villagers and family members demanding justice.
Former village head Dinesh Shah condemned the incident and questioned why the accused allegedly took the law into their own hands.
“If the boys had done something wrong, the family could have informed the police or their parents. Who gave them the right to torture a boy to death?” he said.
Ketan’s family has demanded strict punishment for all those involved, describing the incident as a grave injustice against a Dalit youth.
