Dalit killed for demanding wages

BHOPAL - A Dalit in a Madhya Pradesh village only wanted payment of wages due to him — but what he got was death. Mason Ramesh Jatav was allegedly killed after he demanded Rs.4,000 for the work he had done for farmer Shriram Lodhi, police Sunday said.

Thirty-eight-year-old Jatav was killed in Shivpuri district Friday night when he had gone to Shriram’s house with his wife to demand back-wages.

According to police, Shriram and his relative Gabdu Lodhi took the couple to a nearby field and killed Jatav, a resident of Sirsona village, about 350 km from here.

“The two smashed Jatav’s head with a huge stone,” a police officer said.

Jatav’s wife fled from the spot and lodged a complaint with the Karera police station. By the time police reached the spot, Jatav had succumbed to his injuries.

The police officer said Shriram and Gabdu were absconding.