Surat Police Book Four After Dalit Teen Assault Over Friendship

Surat police have registered a case of attempted murder and alleged caste-based abuse against four people, including a minor, after a Dalit boy was assaulted over his friendship with a girl, according to police. The incident took place after the boy went to the Pal area to drop the girl home late on Monday night.

Pal police said the accused allegedly called the boy to the Fantasia 2 complex in Pal after the girl’s brother saw them together. The boy, who is a minor, informed his elder sister about the matter before both went to the location, police said.

When they arrived, the girl’s minor brother, father and two other relatives allegedly attacked the boy. Police said the accused kicked and punched him, struck him with sticks and used caste-based slurs against him. The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The victim lives in the Ghod Dod Road area with his father, who practises as an advocate, and his sister, who is studying law, according to the police account reported by the Times of India. The police case names all four accused in connection with the alleged attempted murder and the offences under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.