Bhavnagar: In a shocking incident, a 21-year old Dalit identified as Pradeep Rathod, was hacked to death by members of the Kshatriya community, for owing and riding a horse!
According to a report in the Indian Express, three people involved in the incident have are being questioned by the police following protests from the valley and other residents of Timbi village.
ALSO READ: Dalit woman set on fire in UP after she couldn’t repay a loan of Rs. 20,000
Late in the evening, the horse, Raju, led the procession of mourners for Rathod’s funeral. “We wanted to carry the body in a horse carriage as a mark of protest. But since a carriage couldn’t be arranged, we ensured that the horse led the funeral procession,” said Aravind Makwana, a Dalit social worker.
The family while speaking to the Indian Express, said that the boy had been pleading for a horse however the they wanted him to have a bullet bike. Eventually, his father brought him a horse.
“He had pleaded with me for a long time to buy him a horse. I suggested that I would buy him a Bullet motorcycle instead. But he wanted a horse. Eventually, I bought him one around eight months ago. But people from the upper caste couldn’t stand him riding a horse and started threatening us,” his father Kalu, a farmer said.
“We own just three bigha of land on which we grow cotton. Keeping a horse is costly and people like us cannot afford it. But then, I had also treated Pradeep like a prince,” said Kalu, who has never been to school. His son had dropped out after Class X and was helping his family at the farm.
ALSO READ: Blood Holi: 16-year old Dalit boy beaten to death over ‘applying colour’
Bhavnagar SP, Pravin Mal, said that “prima facie, the victim riding a horse led to his death”.
However, Mal said, “Some people from the village and nearby villages have also complained about his behaviour. They say that he would perform stunts in front of girls near schools, bus stations, etc. That can also be a reason for the attack.”
The three being questioned have been identified as Natubha Darbar from Timbi, and brothers Ghoghubha Gohil and Jitubha Gohil from the neighbouring Piprali village.
