Woman, son die as upper caste man ploughs vehicle into crowd in UP

An altercation between a Dalit and an upper caste man over a trivial issue turned ugly and the latter in a fit of rage drove his pick up into the crowd, which gathered in front of the former's house when they heard commotion.

Ambedkar Nagar (Uttar Pradesh): Death of two members of a Dalit family at Mujahidpur village in Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar district has sparked tension in the area. In a fit of range, three upper caste men of the village drove their pickup van into the crowd injuring mother and son on Friday night.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Rai, "An engagement ceremony was underway at Dalit Mahendra Kumar's house at Mujahidpur village in Baskhari police station area on Friday night. In the middle of the ceremony, Pankaj Jaiswal, a resident of the village, came to the place driving his pickup van."

According to police, an altercation ensued between Mahendra, a Dalit, and Pankaj Jaiswal of upper caste, over a petty issue. In the meantime, the situation turned ugly. On hearing the commotion, a large crowd gathered at the spot. The family of Dalit Sunil Kumar also came forward to diffuse tension as it was going out of control.

Infuriated over the huge gathering at the spot, Pankaj Jaiswal seething with anger ploughed his pickup van into the crowd. A stampede-like situation arose. People began scurrying for safety. Sunil's wife Vinita (40) and son Prince (12) were suffered serious injuries in the incident. The accused was at the wheel of the pickup van whereas two others Akash Jaiswal and Pawan Jaiswal were sitting inside the vehicle.

The grievously injured were rushed to Baskhari Community Health Centre (CHC) from where the injured were referred to the District Hospital. Doctors attending to injured declared them brought dead. After the incident, tension has been prevailing in the village. As a precautionary measure, a large contingent of police force has been deployed at the village. Police registered a murder case against the three accused Pankaj Jaiswal, Akash Jaiswal and Pawan Jaiswal.

"The murder case has been registered based on the complaint lodged by Sunil Kumar's elder son Prahlad. Police launched a man-hunt to trace the three accused." BJP's district panchayat president Sadhu Verma met the deceased's family and assured all possible assistance as well as ensuring justice. People took the critically injured mother and son duo to Baskhari Community Health Centre. Doctors at the CHC referrred them to the District Hospital where doctors declared them brought dead.