Dalit man attacked in Nashik, critical

A 32-year-old Dalit man from Nashik was rushed to the state-run JJ Hospital late on Wednesday night in a critical condition, after he was allegedly attacked by a mob at Sanjegaon village, Nashik on Wednesday. The police is probing whether the attack on him was part of the ongoing violent protests in Nashik by Maratha community over the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl belonging to the Maratha community by a teenaged Dalit boy last week in Nashik, or if the incident was the result of a family rivalry.

The injured youth, Shivaji Shinde works in a packaging unit and has three sons who are toddlers. Mr Shinde seems to have become one of the victims of the caste-based violence and protests under which Nashik has been reeling since last Sunday after reports emerged about the alleged rape of the minor girl. Mr Shinde was referred to JJ Hospital by authorities at the Nashik Civil Hospital as the latter lacks specialised resources to treat severe head injuries. Shinde’s younger brother, Vijay (27) who is a farm labourer, was also attacked and is being treated in Nashik for head injuries.

The Nashik police is investigating the case and trying to determine the identity of the attackers. Meanwhile,

Mr Shinde’s mother Babybai on Thursday approached the Bombay high court, alleging that the police did not register a FIR when the attack was reported to them. The family also wants an FIR to be registered under the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.