Dalit student thrashed for not touching upper caste student’s feet, FIR lodged

A case of beating of a Dalit student has come to the fore in Varanasi’s Kashi Hindu University i.e. BHU. The allegation of thrashing has been leveled against a general caste student. It is alleged that the dalit student did not touch the feet of the general caste student.

For this he was thrashed. The victim student complained about this to the police. But no action was taken. Later, angry students gheraoed the police station. After this the case was registered.

Santosh, a victim student of MA third semester living in room number-224 of BHU’s Birla-C hostel, asked to touch his feet after drinking alcohol, said, “Shubham Singh, a resident of room number 226, drank alcohol at 10 pm on December 21 Asked to touch the feet of his classmates.

Santosh further said, “When I did not do so, they hit me and tried to kill me by strangling my neck . Picked up the bucket and threw it at me. When in his self-defense he tried to catch him and save himself, Shubham Singh hurled caste-related slurs.”

According to the victim student, “When I ran to save my life, they followed me till Bharat Kala Bhawan square, abusing me. I got protection when I got the security guard present there to talk to my warden.

Police didn’t take action Police didn’t take action
on December 21 complaint. Reaching the Lanka police station along with other fellow students of BHU, the victim student Santosh Kumar had to gherao the police station. After this, the case was registered against the accused student Shubham Singh at around 10.45 on the night of 24th December. In this, sections of the SC-ST Act were also imposed along with the sections of assault.

Varanasi Police Commissionerate DCP Kashi RS Gautam said, “After a dispute between the two parties, one of the parties lodged a complaint at the Lanka police station. Based on this ACP Bhelupur investigated the matter and charge has been registered under relevant sections. Further action will be taken only after sufficient evidence.”

Courtesy : Patrika

Note: This news piece was originally published in patrika.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights.