The community says that merely filing an FIR and arresting the accused is not enough. The administration also has a responsibility to ensure normal social interaction with the victim families in the village and prevent any kind of pressure or intimidation.
Bhilwara: Police have arrested four of the five named accused in the case of allegedly lifting members of the Dalit community from chairs, using casteist slurs, and threatening them during Independence Day celebrations at a government school in Bhakliya village, Bhilwara. One accused, Narayan Jat, is still pending arrest. The case is being investigated under FIR number 131/2026 registered at the Bagor police station and is being investigated by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rahul Joshi.
Meanwhile, the victim families have alleged that they are being socially boycotted and isolated in the village following the incident. The community claims that the families face the threat of potential attacks from the accused and their supporters. In response, a large number of people held a protest rally on Tuesday under the banner of the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society, Bhilwara district, and submitted a memorandum to the administration, demanding the arrest of the accused and protection of the victim families.
Four accused arrested, search underway for one
On August 15th, a case of alleged caste-based abuse against two Dalit community members, Rameshwarlal Bairwa and Gopilal Bairwa, surfaced during the Independence Day celebrations at the government school in Bhakalia village.
Based on the victims’ complaint, the police named five individuals, including Balu Vaishnav, Hiralal Sharma, Narayan Jat, and Prakash Jat. Another named accused, Narayan, is still pending arrest.
According to the community, the arrested accused are scheduled to appear in court around 4 pm on Wednesday. The community is also pressuring the police to expedite action to arrest the remaining accused. Police, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rahul Joshi, who is investigating the case, have moved forward with the investigation.
Badrilal Bairwa, a young man who recorded the video of the incident, told The Mooknayak that the police have recorded the statements of the victims. A police team has also visited the scene and conducted an investigation, recording the statements of two witnesses, including his. Digital evidence of the mobile recording of the incident has also been provided to the police. According to Badrilal, the community is now pushing for the arrest of the remaining accused.
The Mooknayak first reported on the incident on August 16th. Following the report, the victims’ families received widespread support from members of the Dalit and Bahujan communities.
According to Badrilal Bairwa, a community meeting was held on Sunday evening after the news was published. The nearly two-hour meeting discussed whether the matter should be dismissed as a village dispute or whether legal action should be taken.
Some elders at the meeting advocated for a village-level resolution. However, most community members expressed the view that silence would be inappropriate, given the years of alleged caste-based humiliation and discrimination. Following this, a decision was made to file a police complaint, and an FIR was registered late Sunday night.
Even after the FIR was filed and the accused were arrested, the matter did not end there. On Tuesday, the community held a protest rally under the banner of the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society, Bhilwara district. A large number of community members participated in the rally. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the administration demanding the arrest of all named accused in the case, protection for the victim families, and an end to the alleged social boycott.
The memorandum alleged social boycott of the victim families and demanded immediate intervention from the administration. The community alleged that the victim families were being isolated in the village following the incident. The memorandum also stated that the victim families feared a possible deadly attack by the accused and their supporters.
The protesters’ key demands are:
- All accused named in FIR No. 131/2026 should be arrested and sent to judicial custody.
- Adequate police protection should be provided to the victim families in Bhakalia village immediately.
- The administration should take necessary steps to end the alleged social boycott of the victim families.
- Ensure prompt and fair action in the case.
- If strict action is not taken against the accused and the victim families are not provided security, the community will be forced to launch a democratic movement.
The memorandum warns that if such a situation arises, the police and administration will be responsible. Sohanlal Regar, District President of Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society, said that along with the arrest of the accused, the safety of the victim families should also be the primary responsibility of the administration.
The community says that simply filing an FIR and arresting the accused is not enough. It is also the administration’s responsibility to ensure normal social interaction with the victim families in the village and prevent any form of pressure or intimidation.
A dispute that began over a chair has now become a question of social justice.
The dispute that began over two Dalit members sitting on chairs during the August 15th ceremony has now become a question of social equality, respect, and security.
The Dalit community alleges that caste discrimination and untouchability have long existed in the village. They say that maintaining silence in such cases perpetuates this system of discrimination.
The police investigation is progressing in this case. Statements from victims and witnesses have been recorded, and the scene has also been inspected. The actual circumstances of the case and the substantiation of the allegations will become clear after examining the available video recordings and other evidence.
Currently, four named accused are in police custody, while one is still under arrest. The community’s next priority is ensuring the safety of the victim families and ending the alleged social boycott.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy: Hindi News