A video recovered from the phone of a man who reportedly committed suicide in Sonipat on Monday allegedly shows him saying that he was taking the extreme step due to “the mental and physical torture” by three Brahmins of his village.
Vijay Kumar (33), who used to transport goods across Delhi and neighbouring States, had hanged himself from a tree around 70 km from his residence in Bawana’s Harewali village, which is predominantly Brahmin.
In the video he had allegedly captured right before taking the extreme step, he said he couldn’t withstand the mental and physical torture of Vijay Kumar, Sachin Singh and Subhash Singh. “They have been asking me to change my name and my father’s because it’s the same as theirs or they’ll throw me out of the village,” he said.
Beaten up
On Sunday night, the victim, belonging to the Dhanak community, was allegedly beaten up by Sachin and Subhash near his residence after a month of harassment over his caste. On Monday morning, he was slapped twice by Sachin because of the same, he said in the video. “I am ending my life because I’ve lost my self-esteem. How will I show my face to my children. Only those who can become sycophants to these people can stay alive. Rest should die,” were some of his last words.
Vijay’s family members told The Hindu that before the incident on Sunday night, he never told anyone of the trauma he was going through. “In fact, he called us to say he was ending his life and also told us the location. But by the time we reached, he was already dead,” said Vijay’s brother Pawan Kumar (27), who took the body to BPS Government Medical College.
‘Not the first time’
Vijay’s father said that this wasn’t the first time he was ill-treated by members of the upper caste. Seven years ago, he used to run a shop to sell eggs and it was allegedly shut down by Brahmins.
“He was tormented by them because he was selling eggs in a Brahmin dominated area. He then changed his profession and started transporting goods,” said Pawan. “Is it our fault we are from lower caste?,” he asked.
Vijay’s wife Nirmala Devi, sitting in their newly-constructed house in a narrow lane of the village, couldn’t hold her tears worrying about how to take care of their four children alone.
“Now the sole responsibility of 17 members of this family has fallen on my shoulders,” said Pawan, who recently lost his job in a private firm.
Accused arrested
Members of the Dhanak community told The Hindu that 200 people of the community had always lived in fear of the Brahmins. “Had it not been for the video footage, we might not have registered a complaint because we’re scared of our lives. Even now, we’re not sure what’ll happen to us once they’re released,” said another brother Ravindra Kumar (36).
All the three accused were arrested by police on Monday night and sent to judicial custody.
