Rewari, August 1

Following the custodial death of a Dalit youth Amar Nath (29) at the Sadar police station here yesterday, the police has registered a case of murder and it arrested today head Constable Rambir Singh in this connection. Besides the Station House Officer (SHO), Mr Lal Singh, has been suspended.

It is learnt that following complaints about a feud which took place between members of two Dalit families - one headed by Mr Hari Ram and the other by his younger brother Mr Keshav Ram - on July 23 at Gokalgarh village near here, the police summoned them at the police station. When Mr Keshav Ram, his wife Ms Kamla Devi, elder son Mr Amar Nath and a younger son Mr Lakhan lal went to the police station yesterday, Mr Amar Nath was singled out and allegedly beaten mercilessly following which he collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead after some time by the doctors.

His death created a stir following which members of his family and other residents gathered there and demanded immediate arrest of the police official responsible for it. Apprehending trouble, heavy police force was deployed at the hospital. Senior police and civil officials tried hard to pacify the agitated members of the family, but they remained adamant and the parleys continued throughout the night.

Today the irate villagers, including a large number of women, blocked the Rewari-Rohtak road near Gokalgarh village protesting against the Dalit youth's death caused by "brutal" beating by the police. They also raised slogans against the police \