Two policemen booked for murder of Dalit boy

Two police officers were today booked on charges of murder of a 15-year-old Dalit youth, whose family had claimed that he died in police custody after being picked up for a theft last night.
The two Assistant Sub Inspector of Police were also booked under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on the direction of National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission, said Superintendent of Police Sonipat Abhishek Garg.
National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission member Ishwar Singh today met the deceased boy's family.
He said Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ratan and SP Abhishek Garg have been summoned to the Commission's Delhi office on October 26 with status report.

Singh also said that besides case of murder, cases under SC and the ST (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act have also been registered against the two assistant sub-inspectors.
Meanwhile, according to sources the body of the youth was found lying on the floor and not hanging in his uncle's house.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said the youth, Govind, had committed suicide.
The family of teenage Dalit boy, whose death has sparked uproar, today alleged that the police had put pressure on them to cremate the boy last night.
According to Sanjeet Devi, the mother of Govind, "About eight to ten policemen came to our home at 11 PM last night and put pressure on us to perform last rites then and there."

"Their behaviour was not good and after we denied to perform the last rites they went back," she said.
The deceased boy's uncle, Ram Nivas, expressed apprehension that police might harass them in future as well.
Govind's family has alleged that he was beaten up by police and died in custody after being accused of pigeon theft.
The body of 15-year-old Govind was found near his home at a vacant plot in Govindpura yesterday.
The family members suspect police's hand in the case and post-mortem report said the boy had died of hanging.
Khattar had said the boy's family was involved in a dispute with another family over some money and pigeon.

"As per information, two families Gadia Lohar and Dhanik had some dispute over the issue of some money and pigeon. There was a dispute of Rs 6,000. Their matter was resolved in police station where two persons mutually decided to equally contribute the money. However, one family gave its share and other has not given," the Chief Minister said.
Khattar insisted that the minor boy was not questioned by the police. "There was no questioning (of minor boy). He himself went to the police station. One family went with the complaint where matter was resolved. After the matter was resolved, they went to their house and during night suicide took place, as per unofficial information," he said.