DHAKA:  A couple from India’s Dalit community has been hacked to death after a row over a 15 rupees (17.56 BDT) debt in Uttar Pradesh state.

The deceased were identified as Bharat and Mamta, formerly known as untouchables, form the lowest rung of India's caste hierarchy, BBC reports on Friday (July 29).

Police said that the couple was murdered by an upper caste grocer on Thursday (July 28) when they told him they needed more time to pay for the biscuits they had bought from him.

Police told the Press that the incident took place in Mainpuri district early on Thursday as the couple was on their way to work. Later, the grocer has been arrested.
 
They were stopped by Ashok Mishra, the owner of a village grocery, who demanded that the couple pay the money for three packets of biscuits that they had bought for their three children a few days back, reports said.

However, the Dalit community in the village have blocked roads and protested over the incident.

BDST: 1357 HRS, July 29, 2016
SAS/AKA