38-year-old Shailesh Solanki, who was visiting the Kaal Bhairav temple near Himmatnagar, Gujarat, was brutally assaulted. The accused assaulted him after seeing his surname on his Aadhaar card; a case has been filed under the SC/ST Act.
Ahmedabad: A Dalit laborer in Himmatnagar, Gujarat, was allegedly beaten and threatened simply because he expressed his desire to visit a temple. After the victim showed his Aadhaar card for identification, the accused asked his caste and then attacked him.
According to a complaint filed with the Himmatnagar rural police on Thursday, the accused hurled casteist slurs at the victim, beat him, and warned him not to enter the area again.
What is the whole matter?
Shailesh Solanki, a 38-year-old daily wage laborer from Khedawada Laxmipura village, stated in his FIR that the incident occurred on the evening of September 26th. He was waiting for a vehicle near an intersection in Balochpur to go to the Kaal Bhairav Temple.
At that very moment, a man named Bharat Patel, a resident of Dhanupura, arrived on a scooter. He stopped Shailesh, accused him of moving suspiciously, and asked for his identification. When Shailesh explained that he was going to the temple, Patel did not believe him.
When Shailesh gave his name, the accused asked him whether he belonged to the general category or the Scheduled Caste. When Shailesh showed his Aadhaar card to confirm his identity, Patel checked his surname. Upon learning that Shailesh was a Dalit, the accused became enraged and began abusing him.
Shailesh stated in his complaint, “He asked me why I, a Dalit, had come to visit the temple after dark. He then slapped me several times, using casteist slurs.”
Two people intervened
Shortly after the attack, Narendra Singh Parmar and Jagat Singh Parmar, residents of Titpur village, arrived on a motorcycle. They intervened and stopped the fight. Despite this, Patel allegedly forced Shailesh onto his scooter, took him a short distance, and dropped him off near Ghorawada. He threatened Shailesh with dire consequences if he was seen in the area again.
Shailesh said he informed his family about the incident and later contacted Narendra Singh and Jagat Singh, who offered to be witnesses. Based on Shailesh’s application, Himmatnagar Rural Police registered an FIR against the accused under sections of the Indian Penal Code for assault and intimidation and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Further investigation is underway.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News