Patna, April 14 : A Dalit leader, Rakesh Paswan, was killed by Hindutva BJP-RSS attackers in his house in Hajipur city of the Indian state of Bihar. Rakesh's blood-soaked body lay at his residence as chaos erupted in the area. His supporters and family members rushed him to the nearest hospital, but he had already passed away. Police lodged a case and started their investigation.
Rakesh's supporters and family members staged a protest seeking justice for the leader outside the hospital all night. They refused to let the police take Rakesh's body for a post-mortem until their demands for justice were met. The police finally managed to persuade them to let go of the body and continue their protest peacefully.
The Hindutva attackers were identified as members of a rival political party, who wanted to eliminate Rakesh to gain an upper hand in the upcoming elections.
The incident took place on Thursday evening when Rakesh Paswan, National Organisation Secretary of Dalit Sena, was busy with preparations for Ambedkar Jayanti in the Panchdhamiya area of the city. Ambedkar Jayanti is observed on 14 April in India to commemorate the memory of B. R. Ambedkar, Indian politician and social reformer belonging to the Dalit community.
Reports said that four men arrived at his house and touched his feet before opening fire on him, killing him on the spot. The killing triggered massive protests by his supporter and relatives. Later, massive police force reached the spot to control the situation.
Meanwhile, an 11-year-old Muslim boy was assaulted and forced to shout Hindu slogans by three Hindu boys in Indore city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The Hindu boys took the Muslim minor to a pond in Nipania, an area in the city, under the guise of purchasing toys. A video circulating on social media shows the boy without clothes, compelled to chant slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Hindustan Zindabad”.The Muslim boy managed to escape and subsequently inform his family, who then filed a complaint with the police.
A first information report has been registered against the Hindu boys based on a complaint by the 11-year-old’s parents. They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The three boys have been granted bail from the police station after their parents gave surety.