Pregnant Dalit woman beaten up for refusing to dispose cow carcass

​PALANPUR, GUJARAT: A Dalit family, including a pregnant woman, was allegedly beaten up at Karja village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district after the members refused to dispose a cow carcass, police said on Saturday.

Six people have been arrested, police added.

According to the First Information Report or FIR lodged by the pregnant woman's husband Nileshbhai Dhunabhai Ranwasia, a group of around 10 people from Darbar community attacked his family including his wife Sangitaben last night after the family refused to dispose the carcass.

"They abused me and thrashed me before entering my house and beat my pregnant wife Sangita on the abdomen and all over her body with sticks," Mr Ranavasia alleged in his complaint.

He said they also threatened to kill Sangitaben if he did not go to the farm to dispose of the dead animals.

Six people including Sangitaben and two other women sustained injuries.

While Sangitaben was admitted to Palanpur civil hospital, Mr Ranavasia and others who had minor injuries were discharged after first aid, police said.

Police immediately rushed to the village and within hours the six accused were arrested, Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Neeraj Badgujar said.

The arrested people were identified as Batawarsinh Chauhan (26), Maknusinh Chauhan (21), Yogisinh Chauhan (25), Bavarsinh Chauhan (45), Dilvirsinh Chauhan (23) and Naredrasinh Chauhan (23).

As tension prevailed in the village, police tightened security and intensified patrolling, Mr Badgujar said. "We have provided protection to the Dalit families in the village and are doing our best to maintain peace and harmony among various communities," he said.

Gujarat has been stirred by protests in recent months four Dalit men were beaten up at Una by alleged cow protectors.

Following the incident, the community pledged not to skin dead cows, a traditional occupation thrust upon a section of Dalits.