Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, On Way To Meet Kin Of Killed Dalit Boy, Detained At Jodhpur Airport

A nine-year-old Dalit student Indra Meghwal died after being beaten up by his teacher on July 20 allegedly for drinking water from a pot that was kept for teachers.

The Dalit boy was thrashed by his teacher on July 20. (File Photo/ Getty)

Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad was detained by Rajasthan Police for over three hours on Wednesday while he was on his way to meet the family of Dalit boy who was killed in Rajasthan's Jalore district last month. According to reports, a nine-year-old Dalit student Indra Meghwal died after being beaten up by his teacher allegedly for drinking water from a pot that was kept for upper class. Massive political controversy erupted in the Congress-ruled state since the incident came to light. 

The Dalit boy was thrashed by his teacher on July 20. He died last week at a hospital in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.

According to news agency PTI, Azad was allowed to leave the airport at around 7.30 pm after he assured them he would not go to Jalore, around 150 km from the airport. However, after coming out of the airport, Azad told reporters that he will not return without meeting the family.

Even former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and senior Congress leader has condemned the politicisation of the issue, calling it inappropriate whether it is done by his own party or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Pilot also said that said one has to walk the talk to win trust of the Dalit community.

"Such incidents need to be strongly condemned. We need to put a check on such incidents. Only laws, speeches and actions are not enough. We will have to give them a strong message that we are with them in order to instil trust in them," Pilot said.

"I am going to meet the family to share their pain, their grief and console them. At this point, I hope that such incidents do not happen again in future and whatever strong Action needs to be taken, must be taken," he added.

Meanwhile, a BJP MLA in Rajasthan has said it was doubtful that the nine-year-old was thrashed because he touched a water pot used by upper-caste people. The MLA from Jalore, Jogeshwar Garg, however, said the facts will come out only after the investigation gets over.

"I have spoken to villagers and others. According to them, there is doubt that the incident occurred because the boy was of Meghwal community and he touched the water pot," MLA Jogeshwar Garg said.

"There is no doubt that the boy was beaten up by the teacher and he died. The accused has been arrested and an investigation is being held. Whether he was beaten up for being Meghwal and touching the water pot will be clear in the probe," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress-led Rajasthan government has announced a financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the boy. Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra the amount will be given to the victim's family by the party. Dotasra along with several other Congress leaders have visited the house of the victim in Surana village in Jalore.

(With inputs from PTI.)