Nails Pulled Out, Iron Hammered Into Feet, Genitals Wounded: Uttarakhand Teen's Murder Sparks Outrage
Nails Pulled Out, Iron Hammered Into Feet, Genitals Wounded: Uttarakhand Teen's Murder Sparks Outrage Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 14:06 IST Family of
Nails Pulled Out, Iron Hammered Into Feet, Genitals Wounded: Uttarakhand Teen's Murder Sparks Outrage Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 14:06 IST Family of 18-year-old Ketan Lal alleges he was subjected to extreme torture before dying after an assault linked to an alleged inter-caste relationship. A representative photo for Uttarakhand Police (PTI) An 18-year-old Dalit man who was allegedly beaten to death over his friendship with a minor girl from an upper-caste community in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal district was subjected to horrific torture before his death, his family has claimed, triggering outrage among villagers and demands for swift justice. According to police, Ketan Lal, a resident of Deval village in Pratapnagar block, died after he and his friend, Diwakar Dimri, were allegedly assaulted by members of the girl’s family in Kholgarh village on Sunday night. While Diwakar survived and is undergoing treatment, Ketan succumbed to his injuries. As the investigation progressed, disturbing details about the alleged assault emerged from the victim’s family. Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, claimed that his son was brutally tortured before he was killed.
“His nails were pulled out with pliers, iron nails were driven into his feet and severe wounds were dealt to his genitals," Dhanpal Lal alleged while speaking to reporters outside Baurari District Hospital, where villagers and relatives gathered in protest on Tuesday. The family also claimed that Ketan’s body bore extensive injuries, with deep bruises covering his back, chest and limbs, suggesting prolonged physical abuse. According to police, Ketan had reportedly been in contact with a minor girl from Kholgarh village for the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 pm, the girl allegedly called him on his mobile phone and asked him to come to the village. Ketan then travelled to Kholgarh with his friend Diwakar Dimri. Police said that after the two arrived, members of the girl’s family allegedly locked them inside a room and assaulted them with sticks. The following morning, the girl’s father allegedly informed Dhanpal Lal about his son’s condition and asked him to take him back. When he reached the village, Dhanpal claimed he found Ketan covered in blood. The teenager was rushed to a community health centre in Chaund Lambgaon but could not be saved.
The death sparked anger across the area, with villagers and family members refusing to immediately accept Ketan’s body and demanding the arrest of all those involved in the assault. “I will not take the body from here until all the culprits are arrested, even if it takes four days or ten days," Dhanpal Lal said. “I am a poor man. I do not have the resources to run around courts for years. I want justice delivered right here. Only then will I take my son’s body." He further claimed that a video of the assault was circulating on social media and had been viewed by several people present at the hospital. Police said Ketan belonged to a Scheduled Caste community and had registered a case of murder along with provisions of Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Tehri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Shweta Choubey said two primary suspects, the girl’s father, Yashveer Singh, and her grandfather, Vidya Singh, have been arrested. She said police teams and forensic experts have inspected the crime scene and that an intensive investigation is underway to ensure that no accused escapes punishment.
The BriefWire