A Dalit e-rickshaw driver was brutally treated in MP! He was stuffed into a tractor, beaten, and paraded around the village wearing a garland of shoes.
The Bhim Army demanded justice: “The accused should be arrested in such a way that future generations remember that no one is greater than the Constitution.” Morena – A serious case of caste-based assault, kidnapping, and public humiliation has come to light against 40-year-old Bharatlal Jatav, a resident of Jatawar village in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. The victim has filed a First Information Report at the Civil Lines police station, accusing the accused of assault, abuse, caste-based insults, kidnapping, and threats to kill. The victim, Bharatlal Jatav, son of Bhikharam Jatav, stated in the report that he had a dispute with Bhura Gurjar and Sheru Gurjar, residents of Janakpur, during Diwali. Due to the same rivalry, on May 2nd, at around 3:45 pm, while returning from the bus stand to his village Jatawar in an e-rickshaw, a Swaraj tractor with a trolley stopped his rickshaw near Chambaldeep Hotel. The tractor driver refused to let him proceed, and Bhura Gurjar, Sheru Gurjar, and Surendra Gurjar got off the trolley and began assaulting him. According to the victim, the accused abused him, used derogatory terms for the Chamar caste, and said, “You behave very arrogantly.” When Bharatlal asked them to stop, the three slapped and punched him, beat him severely, and threw him into the tractor. Bhura Gurjar ordered the tractor driver to take him to Janakpur. The victim’s niece, Anjali, and nephew, Akash, were also present at the scene. Upon reaching Janakpur, Karua Gurjar, son of Surendra Gurjar, Mahendra Gurjar, and Dilip Gurjar joined in. They also hurled abuses at his mother and sister, hurled caste-related insults, and beat him with shoes. After this, the accused made a garland of shoes and placed it around the victim’s neck and paraded him around the village. A large crowd had gathered there during this time. The victim reported that when a police vehicle was seen approaching, Ballo Gurjar took out a pistol and placed it on his chest, threatening to kill him if he reported the matter to the police station. He suffered a bloody facial injury near his right eyebrow and sustained injuries elsewhere on his body. Strongly condemning the incident, Bhim Army leader Sunil Asteya said, “Just because he’s a Dalit, he was kidnapped, beaten with shoes, and made to wear a garland. The country has reached the moon, but Dalits still don’t have the right to walk on village streets like human beings. In Morena’s village of Jatawar, a man from the Jatav community was beaten in a trolley, then garlanded with shoes and paraded through the village. This isn’t an incident, but a slap in the face of the Constitution. Shame on the system that trumpets “equality” in every election, yet on the ground, Dalits are still treated worse than animals. It seems some casteist mindsets are still intoxicated with their upper caste status, not the law. It’s a good thing an FIR was filed, otherwise, the insults of Dalits are often swept under the rug under the guise of “compromise” in this country. Now, not just an FIR, but the accused should be arrested so that future generations remember that no one is greater than the Constitution.” The police have registered an FIR and begun investigating the case. The accused have been identified as Bhura Gurjar, Sheru Gurjar, Surendra Gurjar, Karua Gurjar, Mahendra Gurjar, Dilip Gurjar, and Ballo Gurjar, among others. The situation remains tense. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
A dispute in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, erupted over a demand for wheat in the name of a temple. A deadly attack on a Dalit family left several injured, including women.
The incident took place in the Maharajganj Civil Lines police station area. The dispute escalated over a demand for one quintal of wheat. The Azad Samaj Party demanded strict action. Bhopal. A serious incident has emerged from the Maharajganj Civil Lines police station area of Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh. A dispute between two communities over a demand for wheat in the name of a temple escalated to a violent clash. It is alleged that some members of the Patel community forcibly demanded one quintal of wheat from poor families belonging to the Dalit Ahirwar community. When the affected families, citing their financial situation, offered only 50 kg of wheat, the dispute escalated and escalated into a physical altercation. It is reported that the Ahirwar community members clearly stated that they were unable to provide a quintal of wheat and could only provide 50 kg. Despite this, the accused refused to comply and continued to pressure them to provide one quintal. When the victim’s family persisted, it is alleged that members of the Patel community took an aggressive stance and attacked them with sticks and bricks. Both men and women were seriously injured in the attack, creating a tense atmosphere in the area. Those accused of assault include Shyam Patel, Ramswaroop Patel, Bhagwatdayal Patel, and Raja Bhaiya Patel. The victims include Kura Ahirwar, Chiddi Ahirwar, Sohan Ahirwar, Viru Ahirwar, Girija Ahirwar, and Kavita Ahirwar. The injured have reportedly been admitted to the hospital for treatment, where their condition is being monitored. According to the victims, when they demanded only 50 kg of wheat for the temple, citing their financial situation, the accused became abusive. The victims say the accused forcibly pressured them to give a quintal of wheat and, when they refused, allegedly began abusing them. The situation gradually became tense, and the matter escalated into a dispute. In the interview, the victims stated that when they protested against this indecent behavior and abuse, the accused began assaulting them. They were attacked with sticks and bricks, injuring several family members. According to the victims, women were also targeted and injured in the attack. Since the incident, the entire family has lived in fear and is demanding strict action against the accused. The incident has also sparked political backlash. Azad Samaj Party leader Sunil Astey tweeted on the matter, saying that a temple is a center of faith, but forcibly demanding grain from a poor Dalit farmer family in its name, and then attacking the entire family, especially the women, when they refused, is extremely shameful and condemnable. He said that this is not just a simple assault, but reflects a mentality of intimidation and oppression of the weaker sections. Speaking to The Muknayak, ASP leader Sunil Astey said that such illegal extortion and bullying in the name of religion is unacceptable under any circumstances. He demanded that the administration provide immediate security to the victim’s family, ensure proper treatment for the injured, and take strict legal action against all the accused. He also stated that hooliganism in the name of faith will not be tolerated in villages and that the law must be upheld. Currently, the police are investigating the case and are said to be taking action after considering all aspects of the incident. Ankit Pachauri Courtesy: Hindi News
MP: Social Boycott and ₹11,000 Fine Imposed After Dalit Groom Enters Temple
A decree was issued during a village *panchayat* (council meeting) stating that if any farmer or laborer in the village were to employ any member of this Dalit family, that individual would face a financial penalty of ₹11,000. In Padlya Gawli village of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, the village *panchayat* decreed a social boycott against a Dalit family after a young Dalit man entered the local temple. Consequently, all social ties with the family were severed, and a ban was imposed on selling them goods at village shops, dairies, and ration outlets. According to a report by *The Mooknayak*, Nirmal Kanade (belonging to the Balai caste), a resident of the village, got married on April 20. The groom recounted that after the wedding, when the newlyweds went to the Hanuman temple to offer prayers, they were denied entry as the doors were shut. It is alleged that the groom was barred from entering the temple solely because he was a Dalit. The temple doors were even padlocked, subjecting the newlywed couple to humiliation. They were instructed to offer their prayers from outside the temple premises. However, the groom was eventually granted entry into the temple later, under police supervision. Subsequently, the situation escalated further. It is alleged that certain villagers convened a *panchayat* with the specific intent of “teaching the Dalit family a lesson.” During this *panchayat*, held on April 24, the following resolutions were passed: A decision was taken to cut off the Dalit family’s “Hukka-Pani” (social interaction/access to basic necessities)—meaning no one was permitted to touch their water or maintain any social relations with them. An announcement was made throughout the village via public proclamation (*dhindhora*) stating that no shopkeeper was to sell rations, milk, or any other goods to this family. Anyone found violating this order would also face a social boycott. If any farmer or laborer in the village were to employ members of this Dalit family for work (daily wage labor), that individual would be subject to a financial penalty of ₹11,000. The silence maintained by the Khargone district administration and police regarding this entire episode has raised serious questions. Activists and supporters of the Bhim Army have strongly criticized this caste-based decision on social media. They have stated that they will soon visit the village to hold a meeting with the locals and, while protesting against this decision, will raise their voices against those responsible. Condemning this incident in the strongest terms, Bhim Army leader Sunil Astey posed a question to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. He asked whether, under his administration, depriving Dalits of basic amenities—such as temple entry, water, and rations—is what is to be considered “law and order.” Or will the government continue to disregard the sanctity of the Indian Constitution in this manner, bowing to the pressure of a “Manuvadi” (casteist) mindset? It is noteworthy that incidents involving caste-based discrimination and humiliation against Dalit grooms are frequently coming to light in Madhya Pradesh. In many instances, young men are targeted simply because they wish to take out their wedding processions (barats) while riding a mare—a traditional custom. Sunil Astey alleges that the administration’s response is often lax, which emboldens the perpetrators. He warned that if strict action is not taken against the culprits—specifically under the SC/ST Act and the NSA—the Azad Samaj Party and the Bhim Army will launch a large-scale agitation. It is worth noting that similar incidents have surfaced in the past, involving disputes over the entry of Dalits into temples. Earlier this year, in February, a man was arrested in a village in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district on charges of forcibly evicting a newlywed Dalit couple from a temple. The police confirmed this information to the media. According to a report by the *Hindustan Times*, the incident took place at the Arasamma Temple in Goni Tumakuru village, located in the Turuvekere taluk—the home district of the state’s Home Minister, G. Parameshwara. The couple, identified as Pankaja and Puneeth, had visited the temple after their wedding to seek blessings when they were confronted by a man named Narayanappa. According to the police, Narayanappa allegedly feigned being possessed by the deity and began shouting at the couple, thereby preventing them from entering the temple. In a video of the incident, he can allegedly be heard saying, “Dalits cannot enter the temple. Go worship somewhere else. Leave this place immediately.” Officials stated that the newlywed couple subsequently went to the police station on their own. A senior police officer remarked, “Pankaja’s younger brother, Jagdish, filed a complaint at the Turuvekere police station. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and arrested Narayanappa.” Meanwhile, a controversy erupted in Somayajulapalli village—located in the Orvakal Mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh—after a Dalit woman was allegedly denied entry into the Sunkulamma temple. In this instance, a complaint was lodged with the police under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the complaint, Malathi—a government employee belonging to the Mala community—had visited the temple to offer prayers. It is alleged that a priest named Janardhan prevented her from entering the temple premises. The woman stated that the priest told her she had certain “boundaries” and could not be granted entry. During this exchange, the priest’s son, Vamsi, also allegedly sided with him. Malati stated that when she asked for the reason, the priest told her that she could complain to anyone she pleased, but she would not be granted entry into the temple. This incident sparked an altercation within the temple premises, creating an atmosphere of tension in the village. Ultimately, Malati lodged a complaint at the Orvakal Police Station and demanded action under the SC/ST Act. Speaking to the media, she remarked that facing caste-based discrimination in this day and age is deeply distressing. She asserted, “Everyone is equal before God. Denying entry to a temple on the basis of caste is absolutely wrong.” Courtesy :
Panchayat secretary declares two widows, Dalit man living in MP village dead
Two widows, along with a Dalit man, were denied benefits of the widow pension and Dalit welfare schemes, respectively as a panchayat secretary in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh issued death certificates in their names. Two widows, along with a Dalit man, were denied benefits of the widow pension and Dalit welfare schemes, respectively as a panchayat secretary in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh issued death certificates in their names. Following separate complaints lodged by the trio, and the finding of a preliminary inquiry, Amar Singh, the panchayat secretary of the Chandrapura village panchayat, was suspended by District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Namah Shivay Arjaria on Saturday. The action followed complaints filed on April 17 by Ramabai Raikwar, Girja Vishwakarma and Kallu Ahirwar, who alleged they were wrongly declared dead in official records and their death certificates had been duly made. In their complaints, Ramabai and Girja stated that their widow pension had been stopped after the duo was declared dead. Ahirwar stated that he was unable to reap the benefits of government schemes meant for Dalits as he has been declared dead. According to officials, prima facie it was found that the panchayat secretary’s act constitutes serious misconduct under the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Service (Conduct) Rules, 1996. Officials said the suspension was carried out under the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. During the suspension period, Amar Singh will be attached to the Janpad Panchayat Gaurihar office and will receive subsistence allowance. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Temple, shops reopened for Dalit families in Khargone village
Khargone: Two days after a newly married Dalit couple was denied entry into a temple and three families faced social boycott in Padliya Gavli village of Khargone district, the boycott was revoked on Sunday after multiple rounds of discussions between the two sides. Khargone Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma told TOI that the matter was settled after three rounds of talks involving both communities and local authorities. “As part of the agreement, restrictions imposed on three Dalit families have been lifted. They are now free to enter the temple and resume purchasing goods from local shops, which had earlier been denied to them. Both sides have clarified before officials that their differences have been resolved, and normal activities have resumed from Sunday,” Verma said. On Friday, a Dalit family had organized a wedding ceremony in the village. After the ceremony, the newlywed couple visited a Hanuman temple for darshan but their families complained that the couple was denied entry. Following police intervention, the temple was opened and the couple was allowed to perform rituals. Gogawa police station in-charge Deepak Yadav said that members of three Dalit families allegedly used objectionable language against elders of the other communities, leading to resentment. In response, the other side decided to socially boycott the three families and restrict their access to shops and community resources. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit couple denied temple entry, family faces social boycott in MP’s Khargone
An OBC-led panchayat boycotted the Dalit family and two others, imposing a Rs 11,000 fine on anyone interacting with or selling goods to them. BHOPAL: A newly married Dalit couple were allegedly denied entry into a Hanuman Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district on Friday when they went to offer prayers. The couple later entered the temple and offered prayers after police intervention. However, a panchayat of other castes, mostly from OBC communities, later declared a social boycott of the Dalit family and two other Scheduled Caste families associated with them. The panchayat also announced that anyone engaging with the three families or selling anything to them would have to pay a penalty of Rs 11,000. The incident began on Friday afternoon when the newly married SC couple went to the Hanuman Temple in the village. “I went to the Hanuman Temple with my wife to offer prayers, but the temple was locked and we were not allowed entry. We were asked by the people of other castes to offer prayers from outside. We informed the matter to the police, after whose intervention we were allowed entry into the temple followed by prayers there,” the newly married youth Nirmal Kanade alleged in the video posted on social media. “Just a few hours after we entered the temple and offered prayers there, the Panchayat of elders from other castes, including the Banjara and Patels, decided to socially boycott our family and two other families associated with us. No one is doing any transaction with these three families, including us. I appeal people to share this video as much as possible to render us justice,” Kanade was seen saying in the video. Police later held multiple discussions with all sides on Saturday and Sunday and resolved the issue. According to a senior Khargone district police officer, “The issue has been resolved following talks between all sides related to the matter. Restrictions imposed on the three families have been lifted and normalcy is back.” Sources said the Hanuman Temple usually remains closed during afternoon hours due to past theft incidents and to prevent stray dogs from entering the premises. “After the couple offered prayers inside the temple, those related to at least three SC families, including the newly married couple’s family, abused the other caste villagers, which prompted the calling of the panchayat of the other castes the same day. The same village houses around 40 SC families, recently another newly married Dalit couple had without any restriction offered prayers inside the same temple, as that couple was there in those hours when the temple remains opened. Even some SC families had supported the call to boycott the three Dalit families, particularly as members from those three families used abusive and intimidating language for the other castes people on Friday,” an informed source said. Recently, in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, a Dalit groom was allegedly assaulted and pulled from a horse by OBC Lodhi caste men during his pre-wedding rituals. Four men were later booked by police on a complaint filed by the groom’s uncle. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Khargone: Dalit bride and groom denied entry into temple; police forced them to visit, community cuts off access to food and water.
In Padlya Gawli village, Khargone, a Dalit couple was punished for worshipping at a temple, leading the entire village council to turn against them. The police reopened the temple, but the village shops have now refused to supply the family with milk and rations. Khargone: Shocking news has emerged from Padlya Gawli village, under the Gogawan police station area of Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh. A newlywed Dalit couple has alleged that they were barred from entering the local Hanuman temple. Furthermore, they were subsequently socially boycotted as per the panchayat’s decision. Video released on social media Farmer and dholak player Nirmal Kanade alleged in a video released on social media that he and his wife and family had visited the temple on Friday, the day after their wedding, but the committee closed the temple gates and asked them to worship outside. A complaint was subsequently filed on Dial 112, prompting police to arrive at the scene, opening the temple and allowing the couple to perform puja. Police Opened the Temple and Allowed the Couple to Perform Darshan Khargone SP Ravindra Verma stated that upon receiving the information, the Ahirkheda police outpost in-charge was dispatched to the scene, and the temple was opened, allowing the bride and groom and their families to perform the puja and perform the rituals. The dispute escalated after the temple reopened. According to Gogawan Police Station in-charge Deepak Yadav, the other parties objected to the temple being opened after the scheduled time and special arrangements being made for the darshan. Community Seniors Provide Explanation Senior members of the Patel, Banjara, and Gawli communities, among others, offered a different perspective, stating that the temple’s darshan time had expired, which is why the gates were closed. They also alleged that the couple and their family were attempting to enter the temple wearing slippers. Furthermore, local tradition prohibits women from approaching the Hanuman statue, which is why they were denied permission. Even tea leaves and milk were not available. According to the police, after the darshan, some members of the Dalit community allegedly used offensive language against other communities. Following this, a panchayat was called in the village. According to the station in-charge, the panchayat decided to not employ certain individuals and impose a social boycott. Upon receiving the complaint, the police immediately reopened the temple and performed the puja. The social boycott complaint is serious. Both parties are being counseled and counseled. Maintaining peace in the area is our priority. Following the boycott decision, members of the groom’s community recorded videos of goods being denied at three different shops. The family says that shopkeepers, citing the panchayat’s decision, refused to provide even tea leaves and milk. Some shopkeepers threatened to pay fines if they provided goods. Police trying to reach a compromise SP Ravindra Verma stated that after receiving the complaint of social boycott, the police arranged a meeting between the two parties. In the meeting held on Saturday evening, both parties were counseled separately. Police say efforts are underway to reconcile the two communities so that the situation can return to normal. Edited by: Akash Sikarwar•Reported by: Animesh Jain About the Author Akash Sikarwar works as a consultant for the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh digital team of NavbharatTimes.com. He has over seven years of experience in print, web, and broadcast journalism. Courtesy: Hindi News
Disabled Dalit groom assaulted for riding horse
The police have so far arrested four persons in connection with the incident. n a shocking incident, a disabled Dalit groom riding on a horse during his wedding was forcibly pulled off the horse, abused with racial slurs and thrashed by some the upper caste men in a village in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. According to Damoh SP Shrutkirti Somvanshi, all the four arrested persons have been booked under the SC/ST Act and were produced in a court on Friday afternoon, from where they were sent to jail. The SP said that the police have also written to the Damoh Collector to take stringent action against the accused under the National Security ACT (NSA). The incident occurred two days ago in village Bijori Pathak when the disabled Dalit groom, Golu Ahirwar, was riding a horse during his wedding ceremony. He was manhandled and hurled with casteist abuses before being beaten up. Some of his family members, including women and elderly, were also assaulted. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
MP caste brutality: Handicapped Dalit groom dragged off horse, beaten up
Golu’s family claimed that the attack was a result of deep-rooted caste heirarchy and not a spontaneous incident. Bhopal: A 23-year-old physically handicapped Dalit groom was dragged off a horse and assaulted during his baraat in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh on Tuesday, April 21, raising concerns about the shocking realities of caste discrimination. The incident occurred during the Rachwai, a pre-wedding ritual of Golu Ahirwar. While he was seated on a horse as the groom, and passing through the village with his family and relatives, local vigilantes intercepted and objected to the procession. A video of the incident, recorded by the family of the groom, has since gained traction on social media, showing the casteist attack conducted in broad daylight. Groom brutally assaulted despite being handicapped The individuals, identified as Guddu Singh, Krishna, Hakam and Palty Lodhi, allegedly pulled him off the horse with force and attacked him with sticks and clubs. Golu’s family claimed that the attack was a result of deep-rooted caste hierarchy and not a spontaneous incident, according to local media reports. The groom’s sister, Manisha Ahirwar, described the attack. “As we were proceeding, they blocked our path in the lane by parking a vehicle across it. When we asked them to move it, they rushed at us. They threw him off the horse and beat us up. Four people attacked us,” she said. “They said a horse cannot enter the lane and they will not allow us to pass. They made it clear that a procession like this is not meant for people like us,” she added. Despite the groom being physically disabled, the assailants showed no restraint, said Golu’s mother Vidya Ahirwar. “They dragged my son off the horse and beat him mercilessly. Even my daughter was assaulted when she tried to intervene.” Some of Manisha’s gold jewellery items also went missing during the altercation. Station In-charge Sudhir Kumar Begi confirmed the incident while speaking to the media and said, “The complainant reported that during the Rachwai procession of Golu Ahirwar, as the group reached near the village shrine, Vishwanath Lodhi, Chintu Lodhi and others objected to the groom riding a horse.” “They assaulted the group, abused them, and forcibly threw the groom off the horse. A case has been registered under relevant sections, including the SC/ST Act, and investigation is underway.” Authorities deployed police officers in the village to maintain order and prevent further escalation for the smooth proceedings of the remaining wedding ceremonies. Golu and his family left for Chhatrapur’s Cudhi Semra village to conclude the traditional rites. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit groom pulled off horse, beaten during pre-wedding procession in Madhya Pradesh
DDAMOH: A 23-year-old physically handicapped Dalit groom was pulled off a horse and beaten during a pre-wedding procession in Damoh district on Tuesday evening. The wedding procession could continue only after police were deployed in the village.Police said that all four accused named in the case have been arrested and will be slapped with the National Security Act. “This is a clear case of caste discrimination. All four accused named in the complaint have been arrested. The National Security Act will be invoked against them. This will be the first time such action is being taken in a case like this. We have sent our recommendation to the DM,” said Damoh SP Shrut Kirti Somavansh. The incident took place in Bijori Pathak village when the groom, Golu Ahirwar, was taking out his ‘Rachwai’ procession, a Bundelkhandi custom where the groom goes around the village on a horse before the baraat. A group of men objected to him riding a horse and allegedly used caste-based abuses. Police said four villagers — Ghuppu Lodhi, Vishwanath Lodhi, Bichhu Lodhi and Chinnu Lodhi — stopped the procession around 5 pm and blocked the path by placing a motorcycle in front of the horse. They then pulled the groom down and assaulted him. When his family members intervened, they were also beaten. His sister Manisha was among those injured. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. After the attack, members of the Dalit community took the injured groom to the police station and filed a complaint. Police have registered a case under relevant sections, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Golu’s sister Manisha alleged that the accused blocked their way by parking a vehicle in the lane, rushed at them when asked to move, dragged her brother off the horse and assaulted the family, saying a “horse would not be allowed in the lane and that such a procession was not meant for people like them”. Another family member said, “They said the procession would not be allowed. When we objected, they attacked us and beat my daughter.” She added that some of her jewellery went missing during the incident. Additional police force has been deployed in the village. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights