By Jaykishan Sharma: The killing of a Dalit man, allegedly by a group of upper caste people, in Rajasthan’s Barmer has sparked massive outrage. Bhim Army chief Chandraskehkar Ravan is expected to reach the spot soon.

Kojaram, 40, was killed in Barmer’s Asadi village this morning at around 10 over a six-year-long dispute. He had registered nine cases of harassment, assault, encroachment, and disputes with the police over the years. In four of these cases, chargesheets have also been filed and the accused was jailed in the past.

According to the report filed after Kojaram’s death by his son Indra Kumar at the Girab police station, Kojaram left for the farm around 7:30 am with his two daughters – Mamta and Jhamu – to take the goats to the field, when they were attacked by a group of about 16 people with sharp weapons.

Also Read | Dalit woman raped, attacked with chemical, set afire in Rajasthan

The accused caught the victim’s two daughters and threatened them. A video of the attack showed an injured Kojaram with his daughters screaming for help.

The report filed with the police said two people – Sadularam and Chagu Devi – rushed out of their homes to save Kojaram, but the attackers stopped them and threatened to kill them if they tried to save the victim. Sadularam subsequently informed the police and, with help from others, put Kojaram in a car and took him to the Barmer hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The attackers have been identified as Narendra Singh, Jitendra Singh, Ravindra Singh, Raipal Singh, Gulab Singh, Mahendra Singh, Vikram Singh, Khim Singh, Bihari Singh, Jograj Singh, Devi Singh, Sadul Singh, Sawai Singh, Nakhat Singh, Ram Singh and Dev Kanwar’s wife Gulab Singh.

Also Read | Dalit woman rape case: Family agrees for postmortem after 18-hour protest in Rajasthan’s Barmer

According to a complaint filed by Kojaram on March 15, Narendra Singh and Vikram Singh came home on a bike and abused his wife when he and his family were having dinner on March 14 around 1:30 am. The accused brought a tractor and threatened not to leave without killing Kojaram, the complaint said.

The police immediately registered the complaint, but allegedly did not take any action. Kojaram had expressed apprehension of an untoward incident happening to him.

Meanwhile, the family is protesting against the murder and demanding jobs for two members and compensation of Rs 1 crore.

Also Read | Dalit woman’s rape case: BJP lashes out at Gehlot govt, says law and order in tatters