Young Dalit enters a temple, 4 go to his house and shoot him

Vikas, 17, had visited the Shiva temple while upper class youth wanted to prevent it. Br. Anand Mathew: "The caste system is very strong". "Even educated young people practice this cruel discrimination and untouchability. It will take many centuries to change the dominant male, patriarchal, gender, caste and class mentality. For many this is their religion."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - A young Dalit was shot dead in a village in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening, according to his grieving father five days after praying in a local temple, defying the objections of the upper caste.

The man, Om Prakash Jatav, told reporters Sunday that four young men from a higher caste family shot Vikas Kumar Jatav, 17, in his home. He said that Vikas had visited the Shiva temple on June 1st in their village of Domkhera in the district of Amroha, 400 km north-west of Lucknow.

“Some people, including Horam Chauhan, a young man from a wealthy upper caste family, have tried to stop him from entering the temple based on his Jatav identity. But Vikas ignored them and prayed there, "said Om Prakash." After he finished praying, several villagers of the upper caste beat him. We turned to the police at the time but they refused to register a FIR".

"On Saturday evening - he continued - Horam and three other young men from his family arrived at our house and dragged Vikas out. One of them shot him with a revolver and everyone fled. "

Om Prakash claimed that it was not the first time that a Dalit prayed in the village temple.

Dalit groups like Jatav and Valmiki live on the outskirts of the village and the upper castes, mostly Thakuri, live in the center.

Niraj Kumar, an officer in charge of the local police station, said that the main investigation did not indicate a dispute related to a temple or untouchability. "Our investigation - he said - indicates that the victim, the murderer and other young people were playing in a field seven days ago when a fight broke out between them." "Horam, who is 18 years old, did not return home after The fight in the park. He came back Saturday night, went directly to Vikas' house, who was sleeping on the veranda, and allegedly shot him dead. We are trying to arrest all the accused. "

Vipin Tada, superintendent of the Amroha police, said: "We have registered a case against four people from a family based on the father's complaint and we are investigating."

The defendants were charged with murder and violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Br. Anand Mathew IMS has lived in Varanasi for 45 years. He is the coordinator of Sanjha Sanskriti Manch, an organization that protects social groups and organizations that work in various sectors related to human life and sustenance in Varanasi.

"In Uttar Pradesh - the ban on Dalits from entering temples is not known. But there is an unwritten practice: Dalits do not enter temples that are frequented by upper castes. The caste system is very strong. especially in Western UP. Jatav is an untouchable because he works with the skin of dead animals. Educated young people also practice this cruel discrimination and untouchability. It will take many centuries to change the dominant male, patriarchal, gender, caste mentality and class. For many this is their religion. We are engaging in many ways by addressing students in schools and colleges on equality, the greatness of the Indian Constitution, etc. Some are responding positively, but many continue to be influenced by their parents, relatives and peer groups. We continue our efforts with the hope that changes will happen slowly and gradually."