By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The Uttarakhand police on Tuesday arrested two persons for allegedly killing a Dalit youth in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district for having relationship with an upper-caste girl.
“We have arrested two persons – Yashvir Singh (father of the girl) and Vidya Singh (grandfather of the girl) in the murder case of 18-year-old Ketan Lal,” a top police official said. Lal’s friend Diwakar Dimri was also badly beaten.
The hatred against Dalits in the region was reflected in the brutality in the murder as Ketan Lal was mercilessly beaten with sticks and iron rods in Khaulgarh village on Sunday night. Lal succumbed to his injuries on Monday in a hospital.
The incident has triggered outrage in the area and renewed concerns over caste-based hatred.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Ketan Lal may have been targeted because of his alleged romantic involvement with the minor girl from an upper-caste family. Authorities suspect that objections to the relationship may have led to the crime.
Family members of the deceased have accused several individuals of conspiring to kill the youth and have demanded strict action against all those involved. They alleged that the victim had been facing threats for some time due to the relationship but no preventive action was taken.
Senior police officials said a case has been registered and multiple teams have been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and forensic evidence is being collected.
The incident has sparked anger among local residents and social organizations, with many demanding a speedy investigation and justice for the victim’s family.
Local administration officials have appealed for calm and assured that no one found guilty will be spared. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.
The investigation is ongoing, and police said further details would emerge after questioning of suspects and examination of evidence.