A 47-year-old Dalit farmer, Ramesh, allegedly died by suicide at his home in a Kasganj village on Monday, just a day after he was “escorted out” of a Ram Lila programme, according to police. No suicide note has been discovered.
Police reported that Ramesh was asked to leave the Ram Lila event after spectators complained about his proximity to the stage. Some attendees also alleged that he appeared to be “drunk.”
Following his death, local residents staged protests demanding action against the “police personnel responsible” for his removal, asserting that Ramesh had taken this drastic step due to distress over his forced exit.
The protests ceased after senior police officials and village elders intervened. In response to the incident, two constables involved were transferred to Police Lines.
Kasganj Circle Officer Achal Chauhan stated that the postmortem report confirmed Ramesh died by hanging, with no injuries noted. She mentioned that the motive behind the suicide was “yet to be ascertained,” and an investigation is ongoing.
Local Station House Officer Bhoj Raj Awasthi added that no FIR has been filed at this time.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the government, accusing the ruling BJP of “humiliating” Dalits. In a post on X in Hindi, he stated, “The news of a Dalit dying by suicide in Kasganj after he was humiliated and beaten by the police… is extremely sad and socially worrisome. The hegemonic thinking that is being promoted during the BJP government which is celebrating the so-called Amrit Kaal of Independence is the result of the audacity to treat the PDA community in such a disgraceful manner.”