Chhattisgarh: Mob beats 50-year-old Dalit man to death accusing him of theft

Police said that they have arrested three people in connection with the murder and more arrests could follow

Published on: Dec 23, 2024, 18:02:44 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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A 50-year-old Dali man was tied to a pillar and beaten to death by a mob that accused him of theft in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district on Sunday, police said.

Police said the victim was allegedly tied to a pillar before being beaten to death by the mob. (Representational image)

Police said that the incident took place in Dumarpali village under Chakradhar Nagar police station, and they have arrested three people in connection with the murder and more arrests could follow.

“On Sunday morning, information was received that a person, Panch Ram Sarathi, son of Pooni Ram, aged 50 years, resident of village Banora, had entered the house of Virendra Sidar in village Dumarpali with the intention of committing theft. He was caught and beaten, which led to his death,” said inspector general of police, Bilaspur range, Sanjeev Shukla.

A first information report (FIR) has been registered under crime number 574/25, Section 103(1) at Chakradhar Nagar Police Station.

“The main accused, Virendra Singh Sidar, (50), and two accomplices, Ajay Pradhan, son of Loknath Pradhan and Ashok Pradhan, all resident of Dumarpali village have been arrested,” said the IG.

“Further investigation into the matter is ongoing,” he added.

Meanwhile, Degree Prasad Chauhan, a human rights activists based in Raigarh district alleged that the victim was caught by a mob of villagers accusing him of theft and tied him to a pole with a rope and beaten to death.

“This is not the first incident of mob lynching of Dalits by accusing them of theft in Raigarh. Earlier, in Lailunga police station of Raigarh district, a Dalit, Arvind Sarathi was beaten to death in the police station after being accused of theft. The district sessions and special judge had then warned the Chhattisgarh government to conduct a CBI investigation into the incident,” Chauhan said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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