"Some of the arrested have been booked for murder, atrocity on Dalits and rioting, while the others were picked-up as a preventive measure to maintain peace and ensure law-and-order in the village," superintendent of police (Aurangabad rural) Amitesh Kumar said on Tuesday. Bandobast has been increased in the village while investigation on the incident is in progress.
The villagers claimed to have spotted Rohidas when he was allegedly running after an 18-year-old village girl, who was on her way to attend an event on the occasion of Mahashivratri on Monday afternoon.
"They nabbed him, beat him up severely, dragged him to the village square and tied him to an electric pole. In the meantime, the village police patil informed the Phulamri police who rushed a four-member team to the spot. However, the villagers ill-treated them, roughed them up and snatched their mobile phones to obstruct them from seeking help," Kumar said.
However, the cops somehow managed to inform the control room and senior officials, following which adequate force was rushed to the village. By then, the villagers had allegedly poured kerosene on the unconscious Rohidas, and were about to light fire, when the additional police force reached there and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob.
The youth was alive till then and was taken to Phulamri primary health centre in an unconscious state. From Phulamri he was referred to the government medical college and hospital at Aurangabad, where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Kumar also pointed out that Rohidas was arrested two years ago for allegedly attempting to kill the same girl. "A chargesheet has been filed in this connection and the matter is now subjudice," he explained.
Following that incident two years ago, Rohidas and his parents, Pandit and Sumanbai were shifted to Misarwardi area in Aurangabad and Rohidas picked up a job in a factory. "On Monday, he went out saying he was going to meet his younger brother in Pal, who was staying with his uncle," said Sumanbai adding, "However, in the evening, one of our relatives called up to inform us about his murder by the village people," Sumanbai said.
Meanwhile, several organisations working among backward classes staged demonstrations in front of the SP (rural) office demanding stern action against the entire village. Activist Mangal Khivansara said, "If the villagers had any complaint against Rohidas, they should have approached the police instead of resorting to such an inhuman action. We want entire village to be booked for murder and atrocity on Dalits."