Locals have held a protest on the streets of Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, alleging interference by the BJP MP and Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel in the investigation of a Dalit man’s suicide.
Vikram Rohit died by suicide inside his PDS shop in Damoh town on 24 June. A note purportedly written by him alleged harassment by Union minister’s supporters. The note alleged that they want to capture the PDS shop. Days after the pressure from family and locals, Damoh police arrested four men, including two loyalists of the Union minister, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and Section 306 of the IPC for abutment.
However, condemning the arrests, Patel said, “Damoh police has acted hastily. No such action should’ve been taken without getting the handwriting (in the suicide note) examined by a handwriting expert.”
“I’m against the hasty action by the Damoh police. Till all those named in the case get justice in the matter, starting today, I won’t avail any service from the Damoh police,” he said on 29 June.
On Tuesday, locals led by leaders of the Congress BSP and even BJP held a 2-km protest march condemning the Union minister’s intervention.
According to NDTV, Siddharth Malaiya, BJP leader and son of the former finance minister of the state Jayant Malaiya, Ratan Chand Jain of the Congress, and Komal Ahirwar of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party were among those who joined the protests.
