Victim is seen being beaten up with stick by two, even as a third person is seen holding him
The Rajkot police have arrested four people for allegedly thrashing to death a Dalit rag-picker on Sunday, officials said on Monday, even as the state government announced a compensation of Rs 8.25 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.
The incident, in which two people took turns to beat 35-year-old Mukesh Vaniya, allegedly took place on the premises of Radadiya Industries at Shapar-Veraval Road. Video of the incident went viral late in the evening.
In the video, Vaniya is seen being beaten up with a stick by two peole, even as a third person is seen holding him by a rope. Vaniya was allegedly caught under the suspicion of committing theft from the factory and thrashed, said police. His wife, Champa, and one another woman were also beaten up.
Vaniya died while he was being taken to a hospital in Rajkot. The police registered an FIR for murder and other offences following a complaint by his wife, and arrested four accused.
Minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja said the government has ordered immediate action in the case.
"Preliminary report shows that he was trying to collect waste from the factory early morning. The factory owners thought he was stealing goods, which is why they attacked him," Jadeja told reporters in Gandhinagar.
The minister said that based on the video, police had arrested all four accused. The accused have been identified as Chirag Vora, Divyesh Vora, Jaysukh Radadiya, and Tejas Zala. Radadiya is the owner of the factory. Vaniya's family refused to accept his body initially but did so after the government assured quick action against the accused. His final rites were completed peacefully in his native place on Monday morning, the government said in a release.
Minister of social justice and empowerment Ishwar Parmar said the state government has approved a compensation of Rs 8.25 lakh for Vaniya's family, and a cheque of Rs4.12 lakh had already been paid to his wife Champa. Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani criticised the state government, saying repeated incidents of atrocities show that the state is not safe for the Dalit community.
Rajkot in-charge superintendent of police Shruti Mehta said a decision regarding adding a juvenile's name to the FIR was yet to be taken.
CRIME SHEET
- The incident, in which two people took turns to beat 35-year-old Mukesh Vaniya, allegedly took place on the premises of Radadiya Industries at Shapar-Veraval Road. Video of the incident went viral late in the evening.
- Vaniya’s family refused to accept his body initially but did so after the government assured quick action against the accused.
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