New Delhi: The Adityanath government is facing sharp political backlash and scrutiny from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after the Uttar Pradesh Police baton-charged Dalit activists and family members protesting the murder of a woman Dalit student in Meerut on July 8.

UP’s Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey could be seen thrashing a person identified as Ravi Gautam inside a prisoner transport vehicle. The incident took place when the local police used mild force to disperse agitators from Dalit community who had been protesting on the road against… pic.twitter.com/KGhquSbUo8 — Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) July 8, 2026

UP’s Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey could be seen thrashing a person identified as Ravi Gautam inside a prisoner transport vehicle. The incident took place when the local police used mild force to disperse agitators from Dalit community who had been protesting on the road against… pic.twitter.com/KGhquSbUo8

— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) July 8, 2026

The incident sparked widespread outrage after a video surfaced showing Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey pacing up to a police van and repeatedly slapping and hitting an activist, advocate Ravi Gautam, who was already pinned inside the vehicle.

Police have since arrested seven persons, including Gautam, on charges of unlawful assembly, rioting, and allegedly assaulting police personnel on duty. Officials alleged that the activists incited the deceased student’s family, orchestrated an illegal road blockade, and disrupted law and order. Police named 13 persons and booked 50 unnamed others in the FIR, which included charges of attempt to murder and outraging the modesty of women police personnel, reported The Times of India.

‘Necessary minimum force’

The unrest stems from the murder of Lalita Gautam, a young Dalit woman who went missing from the Transport Nagar police station area on May 15. Her body was recovered two days later, on May 17, from a village in the Rohta area. Within 48 hours, police arrested the prime suspect Ankush, an acquaintance of Lalita, and later apprehended two others for allegedly destroying evidence.

On July 8, a crowd gathered outside the Meerut........

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