A tragic incident in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal district has sparked outrage after an 18-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly beaten to death over his friendship with a girl from an upper-caste family.
The victim, identified as Ketan Lal, reportedly shared a friendship with the girl for nearly six months. According to police, Ketan received a call from the girl late on Sunday night and travelled to Kholgarh village along with his friend, Diwakar Dimri.
Investigators allege that after reaching the village, the two young men were confined inside a room by members of the girl’s family and assaulted with sticks. The attack allegedly continued for several hours.
On Monday morning, Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, received a phone call from the girl’s father asking him to collect his son. When he arrived at the location, he reportedly found Ketan critically injured and covered in blood.
The teenager was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. His friend Diwakar sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Baurari.
Following the incident, police registered a case under charges of murder and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Authorities confirmed that one suspect, identified as Yashveer Singh Panwar, has been detained for questioning.
Tehri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Shweta Choubey said investigators are examining all aspects of the case and gathering evidence to determine the exact sequence of events.
The incident has triggered concern among local residents and social justice groups, who have called for a thorough investigation and swift action against those responsible.
The case has also renewed discussions about caste-based discrimination and violence, highlighting the need for stronger social awareness and legal safeguards to ensure equality and protection for all citizens.
Police said further arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
