Shimla, Oct. 7 -- Demanding justice for the 12-year-old Dalit boy who died by suicide following a "caste based discrimination" in Rohru, in Shimla district, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) along with local residents and Dalit rights organisations staged a protest on Monday. Protesters gathered in front of the Shimla deputy commissioner's office carrying placards and raising slogans, condemning caste-based atrocities and what they termed "the failure of the system to protect vulnerable sections of society". A 12-year-old allegedly died by suicide by consuming poison after he was reportedly locked inside a cowshed by some "upper caste" women for entering their house at a village in Shimla district. As per a complaint filed by the deceased's father on September 20, he found his son lying unconscious on the bed on the evening of September 16 and rushed him to community health centre in Rohru from where he was referred to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla where he died during treatment the next day. The complainant alleged that his wife told him their son was harassed and locked inside a cowshed by three "upper caste" women after he entered their house while playing. Traumatised by the harassment, the boy the boy took the step, the complainant said, following which the police registered a case against the women, who have been granted interim bail by the court. Terming the death of a minor as "deeply shameful and unfortunate" CPI (M) leader and former MLA Rakesh Singha said, "It is a matter of great concern that even after 78 years of Independence, caste-based discrimination is forcing innocent lives to take their lives."...