Dalit man beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh after refusing to massage coworkers' feet
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A 33-year-old Dalit man was beaten to death by three coworkers in Uttar Pradesh's Lalitpur district after he refused to massage their feet while they were drinking alcohol together, Scroll reported.
The victim, Rajkumar, also known as Chhannu, had attended a gathering at the Civil Lines residence of coworker Samyak Rajnayak, 38. Two other coworkers, Gajendra Narwaria, 37, and Gaurav Raikwar, 25, were also present.
According to the police, the three men, under the influence of alcohol, asked Rajkumar to massage their feet. When he refused, they assaulted him with a belt and an iron rod.
Lalitpur Additional Superintendent of Police Kalu Singh said the assault resulted in Rajkumar's death at the spot.
Police alleged that the accused later dumped the body on a road in an attempt to make the death appear to be the result of a traffic accident.
The Kotwali police received information on Sunday morning about a man lying unconscious on a road behind Varni Jain College near Gurunanak Dharamshala. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Rajkumar's body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
All three accused have been arrested and have reportedly confessed to the crime, according to the police.
Based on a complaint filed by Rajkumar's mother, police have registered a case of murder along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Further investigation is underway.