Dalit man beaten to death in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind, village erupts in violence

A village in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district was gripped by tension on October 26 evening after a 35-year-old Dalit man, Rudra Pratap Singh Jatav, was allegedly beaten to death by his neighbors following a long-standing dispute.

The incident took place under Daboh police station limits, about 65 km from the district headquarters.

According to officials, the altercation between Jatav and members of the Kaurav family escalated into violence, with five men allegedly attacking him with sticks. An elderly villager who tried to intervene was also injured.

“This was a fight between two parties over a small dispute that spiralled out of control. One of the accused struck the victim on the head with a stick, leading to his death,” Bhind Superintendent of Police Asit Yadav was quoted as saying.

Police said Jatav was rushed to a nearby hospital and later referred to Gwalior for advanced care, but he succumbed to his injuries en route.

As news of his death spread, anger flared in the village. Relatives and locals allegedly vandalised and set fire to a house belonging to one of the accused, along with a car and motorcycle parked outside. Reinforcements from nearby police stations were deployed to restore order.

An FIR has been registered against Ranveer, Ashu, Prahlad, Rajeev and Kunwar Singh Kaurav under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have launched a manhunt for the accused and stationed additional forces in the area to prevent further unrest.