The Dalit family in Faridabad whose children were burnt alive on Tuesday has agreed to cremate the bodies, according to reports. The Delhi-Agra highway that was blocked by protesters is now being cleared.
The government has agreed to a CBI probe into the killings following protests. Meanwhile, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has postponed his scheduled visit to Faridabad.
Protestors had earlier said that the bodies of the two children will not be cremated till all the accused are arrested. They had carried the bodies and placed them on the highway, blocking traffic.
Vaibhav and his sister Divya died in the fire allegedly set off by some upper caste people of the village who had a running feud with their family. Their mother, 28-year-old Rekha, suffered serious burns and is critical in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. Their father Jitender also received injuries while trying to save them.
The killers allegedly poured petrol into their house from an open window and set it alight after locking the doors from outside. 11 persons, including a father-son duo, have been booked for murder, rioting and other charges, a police spokesperson said.
“On the basis of preliminary investigation, four people have been arrested. Because of the seriousness of the incident, we have formed a special investigation team which consists of officers from all levels,” said Haryana additional director general of police (ADGP) Mohammad Akil.
Earlier in the day, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the family in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad. He accused the Prime Minister, Haryana Chief Minister and the BJP-RSS combine of practicising “politics of crushing” those who are weak.
This is an attitude shared by the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of the state and the entire BJP and RSS. The attidute is if somebody is weak, he can be crushed. What you have seen is the result of this attitude.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice President
“In Haryana, there is no government for the poor and poor people are being targeted here which is totally wrong. I have assured the victims’ family that I would do whatever they want from me including pressuring the government.”
Asked whether he was doing politics over the incident, Rahul angrily retorted,
This is insulting when someone says such things. It is not insulting to me, it is insulting to these people. What is a photo op? What you mean? People are dying left, right and centre in this country. I will visit (such places) again, again and again.
The incident happened despite the presence of a police post at the village. The police contingent was deployed following the murder of three upper caste people by dalits some time ago.
The government came in for sharp criticism as ally Ram Vilas Paswan of the LJP termed it as the failure of the BJP-ruled state government.