Bhopal: A 24-year old Dalit youth, who was set on fire in Sagar on January 14, succumbed to burns in Safdarjung Hospital (New Delhi) on Thursday. Congress and opposition BJP hit out at each other following the incident. All the accused, Chhuttu, Ajju Pathan, Kallu and Irfan, already in police custody in attempt to murder case.
BJP said police did not act upon the victim's complaints made before the incident because of the state government's "appeasement policy", the Congress accused the BJP of trying to vitiate the atmosphere by spreading "lies".
Leader of Opposition (Vidhan Sabha) Gopal Bhargava accused the Sagar district administration of negligence and said Ahirwar could have been saved if police had acted "in time". They had gone to police to seek help. The victim's life could have been saved, if police had acted in time. A poor Dalit family has lost its son due to the apathy of the administration and government.
Similarly, State BJP chief Rakesh Singh held state government responsible for death of Dhanprasad. He was admitted in general ward in Hamidia Hospital but when BJP raised voice, and informed National Commission for Scheduled Caste which took cognizance and sent its deputy chairman Dr. L. Murugan, then state government sent him to Safdarjung Hospital. But till then, it was too late. The police did not act upon Dhanprasad Ahirwar's apprehensions because of the Congress-led government's "vote-bank politics and policy of appeasement".
Dhanprasad Ahirwar, a resident of Motinagar area in Sagar, was set ablaze on January 14 by four of his neighbours who were forcing him to take back a police complaint that he filed after a dispute with them. Ahirwar, who sustained around 70 percent burns, was initially treated in Sagar and then shifted to a hospital in Bhopal.
In addition to BJP state chief Rakesh Singh, minister PC Sharma and leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Gopal Bhargava, Dr. L. Murugan, Vice Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Caste, had visited Hamidia Hospital and inquired about the treatment and health of Dhan Prasad Ahirwar admitted in the Kamla Nehru ward on January 21. Dr Murugun had suggested administration to send Dhan Prasad to Safdarjung Hospital for better treatment. He was then taken in an air ambulance to a hospital in Delhi where he died on Thursday morning.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath expressed grief over the death of Dhanprasad Ahirwar and assured all assistance to his family. "Received the news of demise of Dhanprasad Ahirwar, a resident of Sagar, during treatment in Delhi. My condolences to the family. Instructions have been issued for all possible help to the family," Nath tweeted.
