Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, June 15: A 33-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death by three individuals in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur district after refusing to comply with a demand made during a late-night drinking session, police said on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Rajkumar alias Chhannu, was found unconscious on a road behind Varni Jain College near Gurunanak Dharamshala on Sunday morning. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
According to police, initial investigations revealed that Rajkumar had attended a gathering at a residence in the Civil Lines area on Saturday night. Three men—identified as Samyak Rajnayak alias Rahi Jain (38), Gajendra Narwaria alias Gajendra Singh Rajput (37), and Gaurav Raikwar (25)—were also present at the gathering.
Investigators alleged that the accused, who were reportedly under the influence of alcohol, asked Rajkumar to massage their feet. When he refused, an argument broke out, following which he was allegedly assaulted with a belt and an iron rod.
Police said the injuries proved fatal and that the accused later attempted to disguise the crime as a road accident by abandoning the body on a roadside.
Following a complaint filed by the victim’s mother, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.All three accused have been arrested and are currently in police custody. During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted to their involvement in the crime, officials said.
The victim’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, while further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and gather additional evidence. The incident has sparked concern in the region, with authorities assuring strict legal action against those responsible.
