Six-year-old Dalit girl burnt by upper caste thakur

BRUTAL CRIME: The mindless act of torture took place with Kamlesh's parents as mute witnesses.

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Mathura: Inter-caste violence has always been simmering but it suddenly erupted, ironically in the pro-Dalit BSP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. The victim was a six-year-old Dalit girl.

The child, Kamlesh, is lying unconscious in the burns unit of a Mathura hospital, with her baby skin scorched and peeling.

Kamlesh was flung into a burning pit by the village thakur's son for walking on a path reserved for the upper castes, whereas she is a Dalit.

The mindless act of torture took place as her parents stood there as mute witnesses.

“They stopped her. She got scared and then they lifted her threw her in the fire,” Kamlesh’s father recalled.

The doctor on duty described the state she was brought in.

“Her condition was critical when they brought her in. Her treatment began immediately. A surgeon has been in to see her,” said Dr M Bansal.

Kamlesh's father claims the local police station initially refused to lodge a complaint but later at Mathura an FIR was lodged. Officials say they have arrested two accused.

We have recorded the parents’ statements and based on them, we will arrest the guilty people,” said SSP Mathura, R K Chaturvedi

SSP Mathura

Kamlesh’s fate is uncertain, for suffering apart, the serious burns injuries can disfigure her for life.

This incident, though shameful is also ironic for Kamlesh resides in a state ruled by the pro-Dalit Bahujan Samaj Party.

With inputs from Pawan Gautam and Subuhi Khan