Rohini Chatterji: Bhim Army Leader's Brother Shot Dead In UP's Saharanpur
The murder of Sachin
Walia, brother of Bhim Army's local district chief and a member of the group,
on Wednesday, in a suspected hate crime, has sparked tensions in Uttar
Pradesh's Saharanpur, said reports. The 25 year old was is
said to have been shot in close range by unidentified people near a venue,where
Maharana Pratap's birth anniversary was being celebrated. The Hindu reports that while District Magistrate of
Saharanpur P.K. Pandey and Senior Superintendent of Police Babloo Kumar visited
the spot and ordered a probe, the murder led to protests by the Dalit group.
The incident comes on
the anniversary of violent clashes between Dalits and Rajputs last year during
the celebration of Maharana Pratap's birth anniversary. Saharanpur SSP Babloo Kumar told News18, "There was enough police
force on this route due to Maharana Pratap Jayanti. Sachin Walia was already
dead when he was brought to the hospital. One of the LIU inspector who reached
the accident site was told that someone has fallen from the terrace and rushed
to the hospital." Reports suggest
because of last year's incident there were police forces stationed near the
Maharana Pratap Bhawan where the celebrations were taking place. However, Sachin's
family claims that he was killed because the administration allowed the
celebrations to take place, despite the clashes last year.
Kamal told The Times of India, "We had already conveyed
our apprehension to the administration that something untoward might happen in
the Maharana Pratap anniversary celebrations and had even submitted a
memorandum to the district magistrate. Yet they gave permission to the upper
castes to go on with the celebrations. My fear has come true. Thakurs have
killed my brother." More police forces
were deployed in the area and mobile internet services were stopped to prevent
further tensions. Amnesty International,
reacting to the news, put out a statement that read, "The Uttar Pradesh
government must investigate whether Sachin Walia was killed in a hate crime...
The Uttar Pradesh authorities must ensure that similar attacks don't occur
again, and end impunity for hate crimes against Dalits in the state."