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Journalism of Courage
The body of a Pardhi woman was found from a well near Multai on Friday, taking the death toll to two after hundreds of community members fled home to escape murderous mobs on Tuesday.
Angered by the rape and murder of a woman belonging to the Kunbi caste, villagers had attacked the settlement of Pardhis in Chothai village, near Multai, looting and burning each of the 62 houses in a frenzy of lawlessness, supported by local politicians and policemen.
Bondru, a 50-year-old Pardhi, who could not escape with other villagers was found dead on Thursday. Betul SP J Sansanwal claimed the death was natural because the body bore no injury marks.
Over 200 Pardhis fled to the state capital while some went to neighbouring Maharashtra to escape retaliation after murderous mobs threatened to wipe them out. The Pardhis antagonised the majority community by allegedly indulging in criminal activities.
The Pardhis alleged that the police and local administration always supported the majority community.
Even after the second body was found, the Betul police refused to accept that the woman could have been killed by the rampaging mob.
Multai Inspector J L Verma told The Indian Express that the post-mortem on the second body suggested that the woman drowned to death. He claimed there were no injury marks on the body.
