Dalits protest deaths in Alwar, accuse police of inaction

Jaipur, Aug 16 (IANS) A large police contingent has been deployed at Tapukheda in Alwar district following protests by Dailts at a Community Health Centre on Friday.

Protests erupted after the alleged suicide by the father of Harish Jatav, who died after being lynched by a mob a few days ago in Alwar.

Rattiram Jatav was said to be disturbed by the failure of the police to nab the accused responsible for his son's death.

Harish Jatav died on July 18 after being brutally thrashed by a mob when his bike accidentally hit another bike on July 17. Doctors in Alwar had referred him to a Delhi hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

After the reports of Rattiram's death came in, Dalits in large numbers reached the health centre. The protestors did not allow the staff of the health centre to conduct the postmortem on Rattiram's body. They are demanding the immediate arrest of the accused in the lynching of Harish Jatav, said police officials.

Harish Jatav's visually handicapped father is said to have committed suicide on Thursday over alleged police apathy. Family members said that Rattiram was allegedly being threatened by the accused and the police was not helping him.

A strong police contingent has been deployed at the protest site to avert any untoward incident, said police sources. The Station House Officer, Tapukheda police station, Rajeev Kumar, however did not respond to IANS phone calls.

Several BJP leaders have also reached the protest site and are demanding the immediate arrest of the accused in Harish Jatav's death.