Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad (Ravan) on Thursday demanded a CBI probe in the case of a 17-year-old Dalit boy, Sumesh Kumar, killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur.
Aazad alleged that the police “forcibly” cremated the body on Wednesday.
“The body was forcibly cremated by the police. The bullet that injured Amit was removed from his body after 36 hours of the incident. This creates suspicion of foul play,” he said.
“The accused charged under Section 302 are roaming freely in Rampur and no arrests have been made so far. Therefore, we demand a CBI probe,” he added.
Aazad was stopped at Sambhal by the police while on his way to Rampur and could meet the victim’s family only after the cremation.
“Today, I’m once again reminded of Hathras [the alleged gang rape-murder and forcible cremation of a Dalit woman in Hathras in 2020],” he told The Hindu.
Sumesh was killed in police firing following a clash over the installation of a board with B R Ambedkar’s photo at Ambedkar Park in Silai Baragaon village under Milak police station limits in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district.
The deceased boy’s brother claimed that the police officers opened fire after the rival group asked to do so.
Sumesh was passing through the area and a bullet hit him, he added.
Two others, Amit and Raheespal, were also injured, and they were taken to the government hospital in Milak.
The deceased boy’s family, staged a protest on Wednesday and reportedly “agreed to” perform the funeral rites only after a case was registered against the Station House Officer and four policemen under various Sections, including 302 (murder), of the IPC and Sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
While the situation in the village remains tense, various political and social organisations, including a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) delegation on Thursday reached Silai Baragaon to meet the victim’s family.
