Till July 2025, 3651 cases of atrocities against Dalits were registered in the monthly report of Rajasthan Police, which includes 44 murders and 325 rapes.
Bhilwara – Last month, a Dalit priest and his family were attacked by casteist people at Khakhuldev temple in Barana village of Asind police station area of Bhilwara district of Rajasthan. This attack is not just an incident of normal assault, but a well-planned conspiracy to snatch the rights and management of the 400-year-old temple of a Dalit family running for four generations.
This conclusion has been presented in its detailed report by a fact-finding team, which visited the spot and talked to the victim’s family, local residents and officials. This report by Dalit Adivasi and Nomadic Rights Campaign Rajasthan, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Ambedkar Welfare Society, and other human rights organizations is based on the investigation of a fact-finding team constituted on 22 August 2025, aimed at uncovering the truth of the well-planned attack on Dalit priest Vishnu Meghvanshi and his family on 14 August, providing speedy justice to the victims and strengthening their voice for the protection of the rights of the Dalit community in Rajasthan.
According to the fact-finding team, at around 10 pm on 14 August, a group of about 50-60 people, led by some influential people from casteist Hindu groups, forcibly entered the ‘Khakuldev Temple’ and attacked priest Vishnu Meghvanshi and his family, using caste-related abusive language. The attackers beat up eight people, including women of the family, and tried to drive them out of the temple. The next day, on August 15, the attackers again broke into the temple and looted the donation boxes kept there by cutting them with sharp-edged weapons. Following the attack, Vishnu Meghvanshi filed FIR No. 218/2025 at the Asind police station under sections 189(2), 115(2), 126(2), 303(2), 74, 342(2) of the IPC and sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. However, the police have not yet arrested any of the accused and the aggrieved party has accused the administration of bias and inaction. The attackers united non-Scheduled Caste groups under the banner of “Sakala Hindu Samaj” and falsely alleged disorder and violation of traditions in temple management. A protest was organized on August 18, 2025 and a Mahapanchayat on August 21 demanding the removal of the Dalit priest from the temple. This well-planned conspiracy is an attempt to exclude the Dalit community from social and religious activities and spoil social harmony.
The background of this incident is very deep and historical. According to the fact finding team, the Khakhole Ji Maharaj temple was established about 400 years ago by the ancestors of Lakshmi Devi, grandmother of priest Vishnu Meghvanshi, on their private land. Since then, the responsibility of worshiping, looking after and managing this temple has been with this Dalit family. It is believed that the deity appeared in the dream of Ghela Meghvanshi, an ancestor of this family, and he ordered the construction of the temple. Over time, the fame of the temple spread and it became a major center of faith in the surrounding area.
The report said that some people from the local Shakti community, who had an eye on the growing popularity and resources of the temple, hatched a well-planned conspiracy to oust this Dalit family from the management of the temple. They spread false propaganda in the village that the temple is a ‘trust’ and the Dalit priest is not following the traditions, whereas according to the report there is no legal document like a trust. After the attack, the attackers fueled their false narrative by holding a press conference and dharna in the name of ‘Sarv Hindu Samaj’.
The fact-finding team has also raised questions on the role of the administration and the police. The report said that despite the FIR being registered, no accused has been arrested so far, due to which the accused are roaming freely and threatening the victim’s family. This negligence has boosted the morale of the accused and created an atmosphere of fear in the village.
The team said in its report that the Dalit community in Rajasthan has been a victim of social boycott, ban on temple entry and violent attacks for a long time. As of July 2025, the monthly report of Rajasthan Police recorded 3651 cases of atrocities against Dalits, including 44 murders and 325 rapes. The Meghvanshi community in Asind area is particularly vulnerable to persecution and the lack of effective action by the administration is further fuelling it.
The fact-finding team, based on conversations with the victim’s family, the local Meghvanshi community and other witnesses, found that the attack was entirely motivated by caste discrimination. The Meghvanshi community says that the temple is the heritage of their ancestors and the attempt to forcibly occupy it is not only a violation of their religious rights but also a violation of the principles of constitutional equality. Dalit organisations termed the administration’s inaction a matter of serious concern and demanded immediate action against the culprits.
The Asind police and the local administration claimed that they were investigating the case impartially, but the victim’s side alleged that the police delayed filing the FIR and protected the accused. On 20 August 2025, Dalit organizations and the Meghvanshi community submitted a memorandum in Asind demanding a speedy investigation and arrest of the accused. Despite this, no concrete action was taken, due to which the morale of the accused is high. These demands of Nomadic Rights Campaign/ Dalit Rights Organizations:
Dalit Adivasi and Nomadic Rights Campaign, PUCL and other organizations demand the following-
- Immediate arrest and punishment- Immediate arrest of the accused named in FIR number 218/2025 – Sampat Lal son of Shravan Lal Jat, Mishrilal son of Uda Jat, Banna Ram son of Hardev Jat, Daluram son of Kalyan Jat, Shankar Lal son of Banna Jat, Gaju son of Gopi Jat, Pokhar son of Jamna Jat, Sanwar son of Hardev Jat etc. and other co-accused and strict action under SC/ST (PoA) Act.
- Restoration of donation box- The donation box cut on 15 August 2025 should be seized and reinstalled in the temple and the tools used for this should be recovered. 3. Fair investigation- Considering the gravity of the matter, prompt and fair investigation should be conducted under the supervision of the District Superintendent of Police and prosecution should be presented in the competent court under the SC/ST (PoA) Act.
- Protection of victims- Protection of victims and witnesses should be ensured under Section 15(1)(c) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act.
- Financial assistance- Immediate financial assistance should be provided to the victims under Rule 12(4) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act.
- Social peace- Preventive measures should be implemented by identifying atrocity prone areas to maintain social harmony in the area.
- Ban on accused- Action should be taken against the accused who repeatedly organize meetings in the temple premises and make inflammatory statements under Section 10(1) and 17(1) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy : Hindi News