Dalits flee Uttarakhand village after youth goes missing following clash

The disappearance of a Dalit youth following a clash between two groups in a remote village of Tehri district in Uttarakhand has prompted 30 other Dalit residents to vacate their houses and take shelter at the block headquarters, police said today. 

"Dalits of Gangi village, including women and children, have taken refuge at Bhilangana block headquarters citing threat to their lives following the clash. They have refused to go back until the youth is recovered and the accused arrested," Ghansali SHO Mohammad Akram said. 

A clash erupted in the village on December 1 after a Dalit youth, named Rakesh, who was supposed to play the 'dhol' at a wedding in an upper caste family did not turn up. 

When the groom's mother went to Rakesh's place, the youth allegedly kicked her out of the house, the SHO said, quoting a report lodged a day later by a member of the groom's family. 

On December 3, Rakesh's father Sohan Lal and another villager reported that he was missing. They also accused members of the upper caste family of thrashing them and vandalising their houses, the SHO said. 

Akram added efforts were underway to trace the missing youth. 

District Magistrate Sonika said SDM Ghansali was asked to submit a report in connection with the incident.