A Dalit man was allegedly axed to death and his body set on fire by a person belonging to an upper caste outside a temple when he refused to pay him money, police said.
The incident occurred when Khimma Ahirwar - a resident of Bilgaon village - went to Maidani Baba temple on Wednesday along with his wife, son and brother, when accused Sanjay Tiwari accosted him demanding money, SHO Jalalpur-Rath police station Ram Sahay Yadav said.
An eyewitness, quoted by Hindustan Times, said Tiwari had asked Khimma not to enter the temple but he refused. The eyewitness added that Tiwari became furious and attacked the Dalit man with an axe and doused the elderly man with kerosene and set him afire, while Khimma’s wife screamed for help.
Tiwari was overpowered by villagers and handed over to police.
(With PTI inputs)
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