12-Year-Old Dalit Boy Takes His Life After Being Confined by Upper Caste Women for House Entry in Shimla

A 12-year-old Dalit boy allegedly died by suicide by consuming poison after being locked inside a cowshed by women from so-called 'upper caste' families for entering their house in a village in Shimla district, according to officials on Wednesday.

The women reportedly claimed that their house was "defiled" by the boy's entry. (Representational)

The boy's father filed a complaint stating that he discovered his son unconscious on the evening of September 16. He immediately transported him to a community health center in Rohru before being referred to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla, where the child succumbed during treatment. Medical staff confirmed the boy had consumed a poisonous substance.

According to the complaint, the boy's mother revealed that three 'upper caste' women had harassed and confined their son in a cowshed after he entered their home while playing. The accusers allegedly demanded a goat as punishment for the supposed "defilement" of their residence.

The father claimed that this traumatic experience led his son to consume poison, resulting in his death.

Police have registered a case against the accused women, who have been granted anticipatory bail by a local court.

The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, including the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), who have strongly condemned the actions and demanded immediate arrest of the accused under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The DSMM has warned they will initiate a mass movement if authorities fail to take appropriate action against the accused women.