Dalit youth’s custodial death in Chhattisgarh sparks political outcry

A dalit youth was allegedly killed in police custody in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh for demanding the restoration of electricity in his village and after PCC President staged a dharna in front of the CM House, BJP government sought a report from the local administration on the issue.

“There was no electricity in Sagarpara area of Mulmula police station for the last one week and when a Dalit Satish Kumar Norge went to the electricity office and demanded restoration of power in his locality, he was picked up by the local police and was subsequently found dead in Police custody on Saturday,” Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo said on Sunday.

The Dalit youth went to the Mulmula electricity office and said if power was not restored early he would complain to higher officials. After this local electricity officials informed the police and he was taken to the police station.

“He was severely assaulted  in the police station, which were evident from the visible injury marks on various parts of his body,” the Leader of Opposition said. “How has the administration become so intolerant that a Dalit was killed for demanding the restoration of electricity,” questioned the Congress leader while strongly condemning the incident. PCC President Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress leaders also staged a dharna on Sunday in front of the CM House at Civil Lines demanding the resignation of Chief Minister and  Home Minister Ram Sewak Paikra over the death of a Dalit youth in police custody.

“People had gone to complain to the electricity Department and police killed a Dalit. So we are demanding the resignation of the heads of both departments,” Baghel toldMillennium Post.

Meanwhile, Raipur Police arrested Baghel and other leaders and workers for staging a dharna in front of  CM House and took them to the Central Jail only to release them after an hour.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh told reporters on Sunday “local administration is inquiring about the incident and whoever is found responsible for the incident will not be spared”.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said that he also sought a detailed report from the Janjgir-Champa district administration on the issue.