BAREILLY: Unable to bear the humiliation after being thrashed publicly by a shopkeeper and his two brothers for not paying up Rs 200, for goods that he had purchased on credit, a 28-year-old Dalit man hanged himself to death. The incident took place in Mitauli area of Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh.
The victim, Ramlakhan (who goes by his first name only), a resident of Lallua village, had bought some goods on credit a few days ago. On Friday, Ramlakhan was returning home after he could not find any menial job when the accused shopkeeper, Manish Rathore, stopped him and asked for the money that he owed.
Ramlakhan then sought more time to pay up, but Rathore and his brothers — Monu and Sonu — slapped and insulted him in front of other villagers.
After the incident, Ramlakhan quietly returned home and didn’t have dinner. He was found hanging from the ceiling on Saturday morning. Demanding that the accused be booked immediately, the victim's family and several other members of the Dalit community blocked the Lakhimpur-Maigalganj state highway on Friday.
An FIR was registered later against the three accused under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of IPC and under the SC/ST Act.
The victim's body was sent for autopsy and handed over to the family later in the evening, said police.
SHO of Mitauli, Alok Kumar, said on Sunday, “Manish Rathore and his brothers have been booked. The case is under investigation. The accused men are absconding.”
