HYDERABAD: Seven farmers were arrested on Thursday for allegedly lynching a Dalit man last month in Gummadidala, Sangareddy district, for purportedly stealing electric cables and pump sets from an agricultural land.
According to the Sangareddy police, the incident occurred in an agriculture field in Gummadidala when several farmers allegedly caught M. Mallesham, 39, with wires and farm equipment.
The accused were identified as K. Sudhakar, Kummari Mallesh, Y. Sanjeev Reddy, K. Mallesh, K. Anjaneyulu, K. Srinivas, and M. Beerappa. The victim. Mallesham, a local resident who was married and had two children died on the spot receiving serious injuries.
The accused thrashed Mallesham before dragging him to the local Rythu Sangham office in the village, where he was mercilessly beaten again, according to police. Mallesham collapsed at the spot Local police were alerted and went to the scene and discovered that Mallesham had died.
Mallesham's wife Meena approached the police seeking action against the accused. She stated in her complaint that Mallesh should have been turned over to the police if he had stolen the farm equipment. Instead, the accused allegedly beat up Mallesham, resulting in his death.
Based on her complaint, the Sangareddy police filed cases under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and IPC Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), and 302 (murder), against the accused. The police also obtained the victim's caste certificate from revenue officials for further investigation. To prevent untoward incidents, police also set up a police picketing in Gummadidala village.
