Sonepat victim's family refuses to cremate boy's body after CM Khattar claims it was suicide

Sonepat: The family of the Sonepat victim on Friday refused to cremate the 15-year-old Dalit boy's body after Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar claimed it was a suicide. Two police officers have even been booked for murder in the case of the death of the boy who was charged with theft of a pigeon.

Khattar has ruled out any caste conflict in the death of the boy in Gohana town in Sonepat district. The Chief Minister has claimed that it was a case of suicide.

The statement countered the claim of the family of the boy, which had blamed the police.

The Chief Minister, however, added that more details were awaited in the case, adding that there was no law-and-order situation due to the incident.

“We are very sensitive towards such issues happening in Haryana...all measures will be taken to maintain law and order situation,” said Khattar, claiming that due help had been given in both Gohana as well as Ballabgarh incidents.

Meanwhile, the police have claimed that the teenager was found dead at his home in Gohana town, though the boy's family approached the police alleging that he died while in police custody.

"Family gave statement against two policemen. An FIR is registered against both of them and the probe is underway. No arrests been made so far," said Gohana DSP Satish Kumar.

Condemning the incident, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "I spoke to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar regarding the incident. He has taken cognisance of that and is taking all appropriate measures."

The incident took place just a few days after two Dalit children were burnt alive in Faridabad's Sunped village.

The boy's family on Thursday clashed with the police in Gohana and placed the body on the road demanding action against the "erring cops".

Heavy police had been deployed in the area to control the situation.

"According to the preliminary investigations in the case, the boy was found dead at his home today. There was a mark around his neck. A post-mortem examination is underway and once its report comes, we can arrive at the conclusion how he died," Superintendent of Police, Sonepat, Abhishek Garg said.