MATHURA, APRIL 30: In a chilling reminder of caste divisions that still run deep in rural Uttar Pradesh, an upper caste youth, pursuing a masters in social studies, has been arrested by the Mathura police for allegedly hurling a six-year-old Dalit girl into a pit of burning waste after she “trespassed into a Thakur area” of Tarauli village.

The child, Kamlesh, who sustained 50 per cent burns on Tuesday evening, is being treated at the Swarn Jayanti Samudaik Hospital in Mathura. Sunny Thakur, who is said to be in his early 20s and is the son of Ashok Thakur, has been charged under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and under the SC/ST Act. He has been put behind bars.

Police say the situation in Tarauli, 55 km from Mathura, is under control while its residents maintain that incidents of caste-related violence are routine.

Kamlesh’s family members allege that she was targeted because her father, Saudan Singh, had voted against Ashok Thakur, father of the accused, in the last village election.

The incident took place around 6.30 pm on Tuesday when Kamlesh was left near a pond for a short while by her mother Manju. It is alleged that Sunny Thakur, spotting the girl, pushed her into a pit of burning waste.

“We had heard remarks like ‘don’t act smart because it is Mayawati’s rule’ and ‘the government will soon change’ but this (incident) is because I voted against him (Ashok Thakur),” alleged Saudan Singh.

Manju claims she is under pressure from the Thakur-dominated panchayat union to reach a “compromise” in the case but “until my daughter has totally recovered, I will not withdraw the case.”

Others in the village say they usually ignore “small incidents” but on this, they are all with Saudan Singh, backing him for approaching the police. “This is a matter that deserves to be addressed so that the girl gets justice,” said Puran Singh, head of Tarauli village.

Doctors in the Mathura hospital say Kamlesh’s condition is stable but warn that any infection can endanger her life. “She will have to be taken care of very well by the parents after she is shifted out,” said the hospital’s emergency ward officer.

The child’s parents say they cannot afford the treatment. “I hardly earn Rs 50-70 a day. I have told the doctors that I do not have the money to pay for the treatment. My girl’s life is in their hands now,” said Saudan Singh.

R K Chaturvedi, Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police, said: “We had taken immediate action in the matter, the culprit will not be spared. He is in jail and we have enough proof against him.”