The Bulandshahr police have arrested four men in connection with a horrific incident where a group of Dalits was allegedly run over by an SUV after they objected to the vehicle's reckless driving in their neighbourhood.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, resulting in the death of Sheela Devi, while four others, including her son, were injured, The Indian Express reported.

According to the police, the Dalit family had been resting outside their home when a car, driven by a group of men from the Thakur community, passed by.

Bhupendra Kumar, Sheela Devi’s son, recounted the events, explaining that his family had laid out a charpai outside their house due to a power outage. 

“There was no electricity that night and we had laid out charpai right outside the house. It’s not as if they were in the middle of the road, they were pushed against the house’s wall,” Bhupendra told the newspaper.

The car barely missed them and some of their animals, prompting Bhupendra to shout at the driver to slow down. A few meters away, two men from the group stopped, stepped out, and began hurling casteist slurs at Bhupendra before leaving.

According to the FIR lodged with the Kotwali Dehat police station, the situation escalated when six armed men returned in an SUV. The men allegedly drove the vehicle at high speed, running over Sheela Devi and reversing over her after stopping briefly.

Bhupendra witnessed the brutal act, which led to his mother’s death on the spot. He and the others who had been sitting outside, including Puneet, Manoj, and Chandni, sustained minor injuries and were later treated at the district hospital.

The police have arrested four individuals in connection with the attack: Priyanshu Thakur, the driver of the car, along with Atul Thakur, Manav Thakur, and Krishna Thakur. However, three suspects — Tapesh Thakur, Varun Singh, and Ashu — remain at large.

In response to the incident, the police have assured that extra security measures are being taken to protect the family from any further threats, including daily patrols and the deployment of a Quick Response Team (QRT) and an inspector in the village.

Despite these efforts, Bhupendra Kumar expressed deep concerns for the safety of his family, stating that they feel threatened by the ongoing presence of upper-caste groups in the area.

“I’m glad the police are keeping an eye on them…but I still fear for everyone’s lives. They don’t see us as humans at all, they see us as worse than animals," Bhupendra said.

The police are continuing their investigation, and authorities are working to maintain law and order in the village.