Bulandshahr: Four youths arrested for running SUV over Dalit family, one woman dead

A vehicle was driven over a Dalit family sitting outside their house due to power cut. The deceased’s son alleged that the accused attacked them intentionally after using abusive caste-related language.

Published on: 25 Apr 2025, 11:25 am

Uttar Pradesh: Police have arrested four youths for running their SUV over a Dalit family in Bulandshahr district. A woman died on the spot in the attack, while four others were injured. The incident took place when the victim’s family had appealed to the accused to drive slowly.

The incident took place in the Kotwali Dehat police station area on Tuesday night. According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Sheela Devi. The injured include Sheela Devi’s son Bhupendra Kumar and her relatives Puneet, Manoj and Chandni.

According to the FIR, due to lack of electricity, the family members were sitting on a cot outside the house. At that time, an SUV passed by at a high speed, due to which they had a narrow escape. Bhupendra Kumar said, “We were not in the middle of the road, we were sitting close to the wall of our house. The vehicle passed so close that it almost touched our feet and the animals. I called out, Bhaiya, drive slowly.”

Bhupendra said that the SUV stopped a few meters away, from which two upper caste youths got out and started using abusive caste-related language. After this they left. But after some time six armed men returned in the same SUV and deliberately ran over him.

“They drove the SUV over my mother at a very high speed… After driving the vehicle over my mother, they did not stop but reversed the vehicle and drove it over my mother again at a very high speed,” Bhupendra alleged.

In this attack, Sheela Devi died on the spot, while other injured people have been admitted to the district hospital.

On Tuesday night itself, the police arrested the drivers, Priyanshu Thakur and Atul Thakur. The next day, Manav Thakur and Krishna Thakur were also arrested. Three other accused — Tapesh Thakur, Varun Singh and Ashu — are still absconding.

Regarding this matter, the police has claimed to have made strong arrangements for the security of the victim’s family. Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rizul Jain said, “We are patrolling the village daily. A quick response team and an inspector have been deployed to maintain law and order.”

However, Bhupendra is still scared. He said, “I am happy that the police are keeping watch, but still I and my family are scared. They don’t consider us humans… animals are better than them.”