Dalit teen dies days after assault in Greater Noida: 2 more arrested

According to police, several people belonging to the Meena community beat up Aniket and his uncle, Sumit Kumar, with sticks and rods.

“We had earlier arrested two accused on October 19, Yuvraj Meena and Jitu Meena, who were residents of the same area, and sent them to jail. Four teams have been formed to quickly arrest the remaining accused,” read a statement from the Noida Police.

On Saturday, police said they arrested two more accused — Rachit, from the service road near Kheda underpass, and Ankit from Sector 18, Gaur Yamuna City.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida 4, Sarthak Sengar, said the victims and accused had got into altercations in the past as well, the reasons for which are not clear. “They were young boys and it was not the first time that they had arguments,” he said.

Sengar said after the physical altercation last week, Aniket was severely injured and admitted to the hospital and was recuperating. But his health deteriorated on Thursday and he succumbed to his injuries.

Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, who met the family on Friday morning at their residence in Rabupura’s Mohalla Ambedkar, told The Indian Express on Saturday, “I called up the UP CM and informed him of the incident; he also spoke to the victim’s grandfather and has assured them of justice.”

Singh said that Rabupura is a Muslim-dominated area and they comprise 35% of the population, while 15% are Jatavs and the rest are other castes such as Brahmin, Meena, Prajapati. A majority of them are employed at small shops.

The Greater Police had registered an FIR in this case on October 17 on the basis of a complaint by Aniket’s uncle, Momchand, under sections 191(2) (rioting), 190 (unlawful assembly), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (breach of peace), 109 (attempt to murder), and 309 (4) (robbery) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BSN) and Section 3(1)(d)/3(1)(dh) of SC/ST Act against seven people — including Yuvraj Meena, Jeetu Meena, Rachit, Ankit — and 10-12 unidentified individuals.

“After Aniket’s death, Section 109 of the BNS in the above case was amended to Section 103(2) (murder). We are also identifying the others involved in the alleged assault of the victim,” said Sengar.

In his complaint to the police, Momchand said Sumit, Aniket and others had gone to the nearby pond to celebrate Aniket’s birthday on October 15.

A few minutes later, the complaint stated, a boy came, saw them there and soon left. The complaint further alleged that later, Yuvraj, Jeetu, Rachit and Ankit came with 10-12 men, holding sticks and iron rods, and hurled casteist slurs.

“They beat them and stole an iPhone 16 Pro Max and a gold chain from them,” he told the police.