DOTI: A Dalit youth was beaten up on Sunday afternoon for touching water in an eatery.

Ishwar Dhami, a businessman of ward 4 of KI Singh Rural Municipality has been accused of slapping Ramesh Bhul of the same ward after the latter touched a pot of water while having snacks.

 “The man slapped me suddenly when I was pouring out water from a jerry can at the eatery,” said Bhul. “He accused me of making the water impure.”

According to eyewitnesses, Dhami admitted to beating the youth for touching water. Bhul said he would lodge a complaint with the police against the 60-year-old man for caste-based discrimination.

But on Monday Bhul reportedly reached an agreement not to pursue legal action after Dhami apologised.

This story has been updated.