Two children were killed in Haryana after members of an upper caste community allegedly set ablaze a Dalit family's home, burning them alive in Ballabhgarh town of Faridabad district.
The deceased include a nine-month-old boy and a two-and-half-year-old girl. The children's parents have sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
The husband has suffered burn injuries in both hands, while his wife is in a critical condition with 70 per cent burns. Their two children, however, succumbed to the burn injuries.
(UPDATE) Family burnt alive: 2 children succumbed to injuries,man sustained burn injuries on both his hands, woman in critical condition
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 20, 2015
The incident took place in Sunped village of Ballabhgarh town in the district, Hindustan Times reported.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday expressed concern over the killing of the two Dalit children in Faridabad and asked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to ensure security to everyone, IANS reported.
NDTV reported that the father of the children, Jitender, has alleged that members of the upper caste Thakur community, with whom he had an altercation a few days ago, attacked the family at about 2 am.
"We were sleeping when they poured petrol from the window. I smelt the petrol and tried to wake up my wife but by then the fire had started. My children died in the fire...," said Jitender, sobbing.
The police have registered a case under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They have launched a manhunt to trace the accused.
Following tension in the village, all shops were closed and heavy police force was deployed in the area.
