Govt must probe if Bhim Army leader's brother killed in hate crime: Amnesty

Amnesty International India today demanded a probe into the killing of the brother of Bhim Army's Saharanpur president.

"The Uttar Pradesh government must investigate whether Sachin Walia was killed in a hate crime," Asmita Basu, Programmes Director, Amnesty International India, said in a statement.

Walia was shot at by unkown assailants earlier in the day in a town in western UP. He succumbed to the gunshot wound at the district hospital in Saharanpur, triggering tension in the area.

The police booked four people following a complaint by Walia's mother. But they said it was not immediately clear if this was a case of murder, implying that it could be an accident.

Amnesty said that around this time last year, Dalits in Saharanpur district faced several alleged caste-based attacks whose perpetrators are yet to be punished.

The global human rights body recalled another incident on May 5 last year when a Dalit man was killed, at least 14 seriously injured, and at least 50 Dalit homes partially or completely burnt in Shabbirpur village by dominant caste Thakur men, following a clash between members of the two communities over a dispute about a procession.

"The Uttar Pradesh authorities must ensure that similar attacks don't occur again, and end impunity for hate crimes against Dalits in the state," a statement by Amnesty read.