Jitendra’ Kumar’s harassment began in 2021 after his father tried to stop some men from selling illegal alcohol near their house in their village, Patti Dhannaan in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A Dalit youth from Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat District died after setting himself on fire outside the Rail Bhawan near Parliament on December 25. The youth was reportedly dejected after years of intimidation and injustice by an upper-caste home guard and his aides.
Jitendra Kumar (26) succumbed to over 90% burns at a hospital in the national capital early on Friday. Jitendra’s father, Mahipal Kumar, shared his grief after the loss, saying, “I feel I am dead, my family is finished. I will continue to fight against the powerful men, even if I am forced to leave my village.” He spoke shortly after cremating his son, describing how Jitendra had been trying to raise his voice after years of intimidation at the hands of upper-caste men.
Jitendra’s harassment began in 2021 after his father tried to stop men from selling illegal alcohol near their house in their village, Patti Dhannaan, Chhaprauli. Kavinder Chaudhary, a local home guard, allegedly supported those selling liquor. Jitendra faced multiple “false” cases, and when he turned to the police for help, he was reportedly humiliated.
Gaurav Kumar, Jitendra’s cousin, said the victim endured the pain silently and never bared his emotions. told the Times of India: “My brother was suffering and never showed it to us. He went to Delhi to protest, but we didn’t know it would end like this,” The Times of India quoted Gaurav as saying.
Jitendra even approached the SC/ST commission in Lucknow, but his case was dismissed without proper investigation. “He wanted justice. No help came from the cops, and that’s why he took such a drastic step,” Gaurav added.
In 2024, Mahipal was attacked when a car hit him, but he survived. Jitendra’s sister-in-law also suffered a miscarriage after an assault by the accused. Despite a case being filed under the SC/ST Act, no arrests were made, and the family continued to face intimidation.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Arpit Vijayvargiya, said the case was sensitive and promised further investigation. He added, “We’re looking into why Jitendra took such an extreme step near Parliament. His main grievance was the lack of action against those who harmed his family.”
Local BJP MP, Raj Kumar Sangwan, met Jitendra’s family and assured them of an unbiased investigation. He said, “I will take this matter up with the chief minister and ensure a different agency handles the case.”
In a nation where caste-based prejudices remain a significant issue, Jitendra’s death is another painful reminder of the urgent need for societal reform.
The tragic death, the involvement of the powerful, and the historical context of caste-based discrimination all point to a larger, systemic problem that needs urgent attention.
Jitendra’s death serves as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted caste divides that continue to plague Indian society, and the urgent need for systemic change to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their caste or background, can live without fear of violence and discrimination.
