Noida village simmers after Gujjars and Dalits clash

Senior officers, however, said there were “no injuries or casualties” and the situation remained “calm but tense” on Tuesday.

According to police, on Monday morning, a dispute between Des Raj, an ex-pradhan of the village, and Chaman Singh over a 65 square-metre plot had turned ugly, with members of both communities attacking the other.

In the melee, Kasana, a BCom student, was shot dead and several injured. Further enraged by the “killing”, which police believe is to be accidental, Gujjars torched vehicles and destroyed property. They also tried to enter a school where Dalit children studied, but were driven away by police.

Despite the heavy police presence, a group of Gujjars, armed with weapons and two bulldozers, on Monday night attacked Dalit homes, police said. “They destroyed a private school and took down electricity poles near Dalit homes. The aim was to intimidate Dalits. Some Dalit families have already left the village out of fear,” a villager said.

SSP (Gautam Buddh Nagar) Preetinder Singh said, “We have told villagers that strict action will be taken against anyone taking law into their hands. We are looking into how this incident could have taken place despite the police presence. The school that was destroyed was 2 km outside the village. We have arrested two more people for the same and more personnel have been deployed in the area. Further investigations are under way.”