Lucknow, March 10 : A 22-year-old Dalit youth Suraj Gautam was brutally stabbed to death by upper cast Hindutva Brahmin family in BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh state. The 22-year-old, a Dalit youth Suraj Gautam from Begariya village in Lucknow’s Dubagga area, was brutally stabbed to death by Brahmin family, during Holi celebrations.
According to reports and the victim’s family, Suraj greeted his Brahmin neighbour Mohit Tiwari (also referred to as Manor Tiwari in some accounts) with “Happy Holi.” This simple festive wish reportedly triggered an argument, escalating when Tiwari took offence, possibly due to caste differences.
Tiwari’s sister Shivani and mother Ranjana joined in, with witnesses said that Shivani, dressed in a nightgown and shawl, pulled out a knife and stabbed Suraj multiple times—three times according to some descriptions—in the stomach.
Suraj was rushed to a trauma centre but succumbed to his injuries. A viral video shows his grieving mother questioning the brutality: “Happy Holi bolne se murder ho jayega? Kaunsi kitaab mein likha hai?” She demanded justice, crying “Maut ke badle maut” (a death for a death), accusing the attackers of targeting them because of their Dalit identity and calling for their family to suffer similarly.
A witness said that the BJP police allowed Shivani to change out of her blood-stained nightgown before arrest, raising questions about the handling of evidence.
The incident has fueled discussions on caste tensions and justice in BJP ruled state Uttar Pradesh, with social media amplifying calls for accountability.