The complainant's family drew water to their house with the help of a motor pump installed in the area. However, a family in their neighbourhood objected to it and allegedly mixed some detergent in their water supply tank which led to an argument. (Representational Image)

Thane: The district rural police on May 14 registered offences against five members of a family for allegedly abusing their neighbours, belonging to a scheduled caste, following a dispute over water, an official said.

According to the complainant, there was a wedding in their family on May 13 at their home in Mharal village under Kalyan taluka. For the purpose, they drew water to their house with the help of a motor pump installed in the area. However, a family in their neighbourhood objected to it and allegedly mixed some detergent in their water supply tank, the official said. This led to an argument between the two families.

The complainant alleged that their neighbours abused them over their caste, the police said.

Based on the complaint, the police registered offences against five members of the family that abused the complainant and his kin under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the wee hours on May 14, the official said.