Dalit man beaten to death, kin allege cop apathy despite plaints

Jaisalmer: Seven to eight people on Wednesday beat to death a Dalit man named Kojaram while he was out to graze goats in Asadi village in Girab police station area of Barmer district. Family members of the deceased said the assailants were neighbours who had several times threatened to kill Kojaram but the police did not take any action even after several complaints.
Superintendent of police Digant Anand reached the village and directed immediate action against the accused. Police had detained three accused by the evening but family members along with other people of the community held a dharna outside the mortuary where the body was kept, saying that until all the accused were arrested, they would not take away the body.
According to the family members, Kojaram, resident of Asadi village, was attacked by 7-8 men armed with sticks and iron rods. Then they came to tell the family members that they had killed Kojaram and if anyone else wanted to meet the same fate, he or she could come forward.
Family members alleged that the accused were neighbours who often harassed and threatened Kojaram. They said Kojaram worked in the fields and also pushed a vegetable cart. His parents had died some time ago and he had four daughters and two sons, all of them minors.
SP Anand said that two parties reportedly had a fight in which one person was seriously injured and while being brought to the district hospital he died. He said that prime facie it appears that both parties had a longstanding dispute over land and other issues due to which the fight took place.