Fri Dec 13 14:06:23 UTC 2024: ## Dalit Youth Beaten to Death in Kalaburagi Over Cigarette Theft

**Kalaburagi, Karnataka, December 13, 2024** – A 25-year-old Dalit youth, Shashikanth Mallikarjun, was brutally beaten to death by his employer, the owner of a private blood bank, after being accused of stealing cigarette packets. The incident occurred in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, sparking outrage and protests.

According to police reports, Shashikanth was locked in a room and severely assaulted by Chandrashekar M. Patil, the blood bank owner, along with four accomplices: Aditya Maratha, Omprakash Ghorvadi, Rahul Patil, and Ashfaq. Patil allegedly demanded ₹1.40 lakh (approximately $17,000 USD) from Shashikanth as compensation for the stolen cigarettes. When Shashikanth couldn’t pay, the brutal assault ensued.

Shashikant collapsed and died Thursday evening while being taken home by his parents. His death prompted protests by family members and Dalit organization leaders outside the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Hospital, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.

Police have registered a murder case against all five individuals, also invoking charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Social Welfare Department has provided the victim’s family with a compensation of ₹4.12 lakh (approximately $50,000 USD). The investigation is ongoing.

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