Gujarat: Dalit man refuses to vacate his land, beaten to death by upper caste community

A 40-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people belonging to the upper caste community led by the sarpanch at Sodhana in Porbandar district, police said. The incident took place on July 6.

Rambhai Bheekhabhai Singrakhiya, the victim, had a five-bigha plot of farmland which is surrounded by the lands of farmers belonging to the Mehar community, police said. The other farmers wanted Rambhai to vacate his land and had allegedly threatened him of dire consequences if he refused.

A group of Maher community members led by sarpanch Harbham Karavadara attacked Rambhai with sharp weapons on Wednesday. Labourers Govind Bhandavadra and Vijay Chanchiya who were working on Rambhai's land were also injured when they tried to rescue him, police said. "The three sustained serious injuries and were shifted to Rajkot after being given primary treatment at Porbandar. However Rambhai succumbed during treatment at the Rajkot civil hospital," said M S Rana, superintendent of police, Porbandar rural.

A case was registered at Bagvadar police station against thirty persons, of which three were arrested while sarpanch Karavadara, the main accused, was absconding. The incident led to tension in the area on Friday with authorities deploying police in large number to prevent trouble as the deceased man was cremated.