VBA, AIMIM visit caste violence victim Viraj Jagtap's family, demand speedy trial

Pune: City-based social organisations and political parties are now pursuing the honour killing case in which a 20-year-old Dalit youth was killed on Saturday because he was romantically involved with an 'upper caste' girl. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and All India Majlis-e-lttehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) demanded to run case in a fast-track court for speedy justice to victim family and give protection to victim Viraj Jagtap's family members as the accused have 'political influence'. 

Other outfits like 'Manuski', a city-based NGO too, have announced that they will provide legal aid to the victim's family.

On Thursday, VBA leaders Anjali Maydeo, Sujat Ambedkar, and 'Manuski' representative Prachi Salve among others visited the victim family and gave them moral support. After that, they met police officials and demanded to speed-up the recording of the accused Jagdish Kate's statement within the legal framework.

पिंपरी-चिंचवड येथे जातीयवादातून हत्या करण्यात आलेल्या विराज जगतापच्या कुटुंबाची आज अंजलीताई आंबेडकर,सुजात आंबेडकर यांनी भेट घेऊन सांत्वन केले.कुंटुबाशी संवाद साधुन या सर्व प्रकरणात वंचित बहुजन आघाडी आपल्यापाठीशी उभी आहे असा शब्द दिला.@AmbedkarSujat @AnjaliMaydeo @priyadarshi07 pic.twitter.com/XHk6QwVQt5

— Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (@VBAforIndia) June 11, 2020

The heinous murder had taken place in the Pimple Saudagar area of Pune in Maharashtra. A 20-year-old Dalit youth Viraj Jagtap was allegedly chased and brutally killed by six people in on Sunday night according to an eye witness. Out of the six accused including two minors, police have so far arrested four people under relevant sections of IPC and The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act ( Atrocities Act ).

According to the police statement, the accused father, identified as Jagdish Kate used casteist remarks and admonished and spat on Viraj for having an affair with his daughter. The youth was taken to the hospital but died during the treatment, said the police.

A 'Manuski' representative Prachi Salve claimed after speaking to the family members and studying the police First Information Report (FIR) that the victim did not receive treatment in time and that resulted in his death. The incident took place on Sunday at around 9.30 pm. Two private hospitals denied treatment to the victim. They did not even provide first aid. Due to excess bleeding, Viraj lost his life after three hours in one of the private hospitals, which started treatment only once Rs. 50,000 were deposited as advance payment.

She said," Viraj had his own tours and travels business and they operated four tourist vehicles. His mother is working with the PCMC. The family is comparatively well to do. Our organisation will provide legal aid to Viraj's family."

Akil Mujawar, Maharastra state secretary of the AIMIM, met Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner and gave an application of demands to run the case in fast-track court and provide police protection to victim family and provide compensation.

"On Sunday night, the accused drove a tempo and hit the deceased's two-wheeler. The deceased after falling off the two-wheeler tried to run, but the accused then chased him and hit him in the head using an iron rod. One of the accused hit him using a stone," said a police officer, attached with Sangvi Police station. 

The officer said that the accused father, identified as Jagdish Kate used casteist remarks and admonished and spat on him for having an affair with his daughter. The youth was taken to the hospital but died during the treatment, said the police.