Dalit man held hostage and attacked after a minor bike accident in UP

The alleged suspect demanded that the victim pay him ₹20,000 as compensation for his damaged bike.

In a shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Badohi district, a 20-year-old Dalit man was allegedly attacked and held hostage after a minor bike accident. His bike collided with another motorcycle in Uttar Pradesh’s Badohi district, said police on Saturday.

A Dalit man attacked in Uttar Pradesh after a minor bike accident.

The Dalit man, 20, identified as Sangam Lal Gautam, was going back to his home in Prayagraj’s Handia on March 10 when the accident took place. Abhimanyu Manglik, Superintendent of Police (SP), said the biker, Rishabh Pandey, was travelling in the wrong direction near the Berwa Paharpur area. This led to his bike colliding with Gautam’s bike, which caused him critical injuries. However, when Rishabh learnt about Gautam’s caste, he and ten other unidentified men “started abusing and injuring Sangam Lal Gautam, hurling casteist slurs. They accused him of riding a bike in an intoxicated state and beat him.” Manglik was cited as saying by news agency PTI.

The Dalit man was also held hostage.

The victim was allegedly held hostage by Rishabh Pandey, who demanded ₹20,000 as compensation for the damages his bike suffered. Many hours later, Gautam managed to reach his father, Narayan Das Gautam, who contacted emergency services, said the police. Gautam was then rescued by the police and admitted to a community health centre. On the basis of his complaint on March 22, a case was registered at the Koirauna police station against Rishabh Pandey, Pawan Pandey and 10 other unidentified persons under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

SP Manglik said that an investigation into the matter has been launched.