Greater Noida: Kin of murdered youth protest police inaction

Members of the Dalit community staged a protest in front of the Greater Noida authority’s office on Friday, demanding the arrest of persons involved in murdering a youth.

Bholeshwar, a 17-year-old resident of Surajpur, was found dead under mysterious circumstance on the railway tracks near Dadri on August 24.

The Dadri police had sent the body for an autopsy and informed the family members.

“On the evening of July 23, Bholeshwar’s bike had collided with the cattle of a local strongman, Baburam Gurjar, while returning home from a friend’s place. Baburam’s family had thrashed him and threatened him with dire consequences. He had returned home with injuries. He left home again on Wednesday evening but did not return. His body was found in Dadri,” Bhola Nath, a relative of the deceased, said.

Demanding action against those responsible, members of the Dalit community blocked the main road leading to the Greater Noida authority office. Senior police officers reached the spot and pacified the crowd to remove the roadblock.

“Based on a complaint from the family of the deceased, we have registered a case under sections of murder and SC/ST Act against unidentified persons. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination by the Dadri police, reports of which are still awaited. The family of the deceased did not mention anyone in the complaint given to the police,” Praveen Yadav, in-charge of Surajpur police station, said.

The police, however, called the family of Baburam for questioning and asked them not to leave the city till the investigation is finished.

“The suspect said that he had a fracas with the deceased over a minor accident. However, he denied any involvement in Bholeshwar’s murder. We are checking the mobile phone location of the suspects to corroborate their statements. Further action will be taken once the post-mortem report confirms the cause of death,” said Yadav.