Rajbiraj, June 28

A person from the Dalit community was thrashed mercilessly in Bode Barsain Municipality,  Saptari,  yesterday for entering a temple to perform puja.

Liladhar Das (Tatma) of Bode Barasain Municipality was beaten black and blue by the local non-Dalits.

Das, whose left arm got fractured, received multiple injuries on different parts of his body. He was admitted to Rajbiraj-based Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital this morning, from where he was then referred to Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences.

According to eye-witness Laxmi Ram, locals Raj Kumar Yadav, Kasindra Yadav, Ramchandra Yadav and Sakaldev Yadav, among others, had attacked Das when he reached the local temple to perform Asare Puja.

“I had barely stepped into the temple when they started beating me. A few boys came to my rescue and saved me,” said the victim, resenting the high-handedness of the so-called high caste people.

Further, the victim accused the police of being reluctant to investigate the incident. “Though I filed a complaint with the area police office soon after the incident, the police didn’t pay any heed to the incident,” Das lamented.

SI Uma Shankar Singh of the Bode Barasain Area Police Office, however, clarified his office has started investigation by detaining the persons involved.