Gujarat Dalit Attacked After Cousin Was Thrashed Allegedly Over Moustache

Ahmedabad: The cousin of one of the two Dalit men thrashed last week allegedly for sporting a moustache in a village near Gandhinagar in Gujarat was on Tuesday allegedly attacked by two unidentified men, police said.

The relatives of 17-year-old Digant Maheria alleged that two bike-borne men stopped the teenager and slashed his back with a blade when he was returning home from school last afternoon.

Digant's cousin, Piyush Parmar, 24, was allegedly thrashed by members of the Rajput community on September 25. Family members claimed that Digant was accompanying him when the incident took place.

"Digant told us that two unidentified men attacked him using a blade. He received some cuts behind his back in the attack. We have started the process of filing an FIR in the case," Deputy Superintendent of Police VN Solanki said.

According to Digant's uncle, his nephew was attacked because Piyush had earlier lodged a complaint against the men who allegedly thrashed him.

Advertisement

"Digant was present when Piyush was thrashed. Today(Tuesday), two men, who were wearing masks, intercepted Digant when he was returning home after giving his exam. The bikers told Digant that they have received Rs 1.5 lakh to attack those who had lodged the FIR," alleged his uncle Kirit Maheria.

"Before Digant could understand anything, one of them attacked him with a blade and made several cuts on his back. Digant received deep wounds in the attack. He is now out of danger," he said.

Advertisement

On September 29,  Krunal Maheria, 30, of the same village had also alleged in his complaint that he was assaulted by some Rajput men for "sporting a moustache".