UP: Tension in Rampur After Dalit Teen Killed in Clash; Bhim Army Chief Under House Arrest

Lucknow: A tense situation prevailed in Silai Baragaon village of Rampur district following the death of a Dalit teen and two others injured in a clash over the installation of a board with BR Ambedkar's photo on a disputed land, police claimed on Wednesday.

The deceased Sumesh Kumar (17), who was returning home after giving his Class 10 board examination, was killed during the clash. The two others injured were rushed to a hospital where their condition is stable, police said.

According to police, the clash took place between two groups in Silai Baragaon village in Milak area on Tuesday over the installation of a board with BR Ambedkar's photo on a disputed land. 

Aujaneya Kumar Singh, divisional commissioner, Moradabad, said there was a manure pit at this place, which was filled and levelled. One faction was trying to install a board with the picture of Ambedkar and wanted to install his statue on the land. They also demanded the land to be turned into a park in his name. 

However, the other faction opposed the same and claimed the land belonged to gram samaj, leading to a clash, Singh claimed.

As soon as the dead body reached Silai Baragaon village, angry villagers staged a sit-in demanding the arrest of the accused and refused to cremate the body. The father of the deceased accused the police of firing due to which his son died. However, the SP denied the allegation and termed it baseless.

After the massive protest by the villagers, a case has been registered against 25 named people, including four police personnel, and Tehsildar and SDM under Section 302,323,149,148,147 of IPC and Section 3(2)V of the Scheduled Tribe Act. A case was registered at Milak police station on the complaint of Gendanlal, father of the deceased. 

After the case was registered against the police officers, the final rites of the deceased were performed.

"Two police officers Adesh Chauhan and Rishipal opened fire at the behest of the Gangwars community. My brother Somesh was passing through the area and a bullet hit him and he died on the spot," the teen’s father told NewsClick. 

The relatives of the deceased accused the police along with the Gangwar community of murder. 

Meanwhile, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who was on the way to Rampur to meet the victim's family members, has been placed under house arrest by the police in Sambhal. There is palpable anger among the community after the incident. 

"Today's incident reminded me of the Hathras case. The oppression of Dalits is at its peak in Uttar Pradesh. In Rampur, Somesh has been shot dead by the police, many people were injured but the police put me under house arrest. Now can't I even meet my victim's family" the Bhim Army chief said on X, formerly known as Twitter.  

While talking to reporters, Azad said that he will go to meet the family of the youth in Rampur at any cost. "I will not leave that family alone. The way bullets are being fired openly, it has proved that there is nothing left in the name of law and order."