Another five Dalits were severely injured. The attack took place in the eastern state of Bihar, where “discrimination against outcastes still prevails”.

Patna (AsiaNews/ICNS) -- A group of as yet unidentified people yesterday, 23 April, beat a Dalit [outcaste] woman to death. She was picking up grains that had fallen during the sowing of a field near the village of Basudeo Dehri in the eastern state of Bihar.

Police told the local press about the attack, saying it was “further evidence of discrimination against outcastes, still prevalent in the area”.

According to reconstructions of the attack, the woman was with other local Dalits; they were picking up seeds of grain dropped by peasants during sowing. Upon seeing this, a group of people took the women captive in a house, where they were beaten severely. Apart from the woman who was killed, five others were severely injured. Police rescued the women and registered a case, but no arrest has been made.

Shortly after the incident, a group of people blocked Mohania-Ara Highway for several hours demanding “the immediate arrest of the culprits”. A police officer said: “Tension prevails in the village, but we are keeping the situation under control.”