Upper caste members accused of Prayagraj killings arrested for intimidation

Lucknow: The four upper-caste members, initially accused of murdering a Dalit family in Prayagraj, have been arrested in connection with a case filed by the family in September alleging intimidation, reports The Indian Express. The fifth accused in the case is already in jail in connection with a motorcycle theft. The four, arrested on Monday night, have been charged under IPC Sections of rioting, assault and criminal intimidation, and provisions of the SC/ST Act.

As per the complaint of a woman related to the Dalit family, the five accused broke into their house with lathis and iron rods on the night of September 21 and beat them up, leading to serious injuries, over an old dispute. She further noted a threat of murder and added that they left only after the neighbours gathered. The family had lodged an FIR in 2019 September as well accusing the same upper caste members of assaulting them for objecting to grazing on their land. It was withdrawn following police pressure, the family said.

11, including the five above, were cleared earlier on Monday of the murder by the police. They were named in the FIR filed by the relatives of the Dalit family found murdered on Thursday. The police then arrested a 19-year-old Dalit youth for the murder, whom they allege, stalked and then murdered the family after the 23-year-old woman spurned his advances. The family, however, have questioned the police claims. The police, too, did not confirm the evidence against the youth.