2 held for murder of Dalit man in Ghaziabad

Two persons were arrested today in connection with the death of a Dalit man at Naifal village here in a suspected case of caste enmity, the police said.

Ajay and Raju were held from Kazipura area. Two 315 bore country-made pistols and three live cartridges were seized from their possession, Assistant Superintendent of Police Aparna Gautama said.

The 40-year-old Dalit man was shot dead on May 17 allegedly by five bike-borne assailants.

Mahendra, a driver, was returning home after parking a private school bus, when the accused attacked him. He died on the spot.

He was also a witness to his father's murder during a wedding procession on February 12, 2009.

The "higher caste" people of the village had opposed the procession, the police said, adding that the murder case of the deceased's father was still under trial in a district court.

In a bid to prevent Mahendra, who was the main witness in the murder case, from testifying against them, they shot him dead, the police had said.