India, Aug. 25 -- A 25-year-old Dalit man, who had to leave after marrying outside his caste in Gwalior district's Harsi village, was beaten to death by his wife's family and others soon after he returned to the village on August 19, police said.

Police said a murder case has been registered against 12 people, including the woman's relatives, after the Dalit man, Om Prakash Batham, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

Police said Om Prakash Batham had married Shivani Jha in January this year against the wishes of her family. Subsequently, the Harsi panchayat had imposed a Rs.51,000 fine on Batham for the inter-caste marriage and ordered villagers to boycott the family.

It is unclear whether Om Prakash Batham paid the penalty at the dir...