UP: Saharanpur tense after mysterious death of Bhim Army leader’s kin

The suspicious death of a Dalit leader’s brother at his home in Ramnagar sparked tensions in Saharanpur on Wednesday, spurring fears of a repeat of last year’s inter-caste clashes in the district.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Additional director general of police (Meerut zone) Prashant Kumar said Sachin, brother of Bhim Army district president Kamal Walia, was shot in the face at point-blank range. While the identity of the shooter could not be ascertained, the injury was found to be inflicted by a countrymade pistol.

“The matter is being investigated,” Kumar said.

Kamal Walia, a close aide of Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar, is a prominent figure in the Dalit community. He was instrumental in organising many agitations for the leader’s release from jail.

Meanwhile, Bhim Army supporters came out on the streets in large numbers to condemn Sachin’s alleged murder. Police ordered the cancellation of a Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession in a neighbouring village to prevent the occurrence of another inter-caste clash in the district.

Dalits had clashed with Rajputs in Shabbeerpur on May 2 last year, after a dispute arose over loud music being played during a Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession. The subsequent clashes led to the torching of 50 Dalit houses in the locality and the death of a Rajput community member.

Chandrashekhar then accused the administration of siding with the upper-caste community, and issued the call for a ‘Dalit mahapanchayat’. But the district administration denied permission for the event, leading to further clashes between Bhim Army supporters and the police. Chandrashekhar was subsequently arrested and booked under the National Security Act.