The FIR was filed following a complaint by Rameshwarlal Bairwa, 35, and Gopilal Bairwa, 37, who alleged that they were subjected to caste-based discrimination while attending the programme.
Rajasthan Police have registered an FIR after two Dalit men alleged that they were forced to vacate chairs and sit on the floor during an Independence Day function at a government school in Bhakliya village of Bhilwara district.
The FIR was filed following a complaint by Rameshwarlal Bairwa, 35, and Gopilal Bairwa, 37, who alleged that they were subjected to caste-based discrimination while attending the programme.
According to their complaint, the two were sitting on chairs arranged for the event when some people allegedly approached them and abused them using caste-based slurs.
They alleged that they were told, “You Bairwas, sit down below . If you sit on the chairs, where will we sit? What right do you have to sit in front of us?”
The complainants alleged that they were intimidated and forced to leave the chairs. They also claimed that the accused threatened to shut down the Anganwadi where two women from their community worked.
The alleged incident took place in front of schoolchildren, teachers and other villagers, which the complainants said caused them “mental trauma” and hurt their self-respect and social standing.
Videos of the incident have since circulated online.
One video recorded by resident Badri Lal Bairwa shows a verbal confrontation between a group of people at the school while children sit on the ground.
Badri Lal can be heard saying, “We are celebrating Independence Day, but look at this mentality,” before saying, “You are educated… this is the condition.”
A demonstration was held at the Bhilwara district headquarters, with protesters submitting a memorandum to the District Superintendent of Police seeking the arrest of the named accused, protection for the victims’ families and an end to the alleged social boycott.
Bagor police station SHO Bachhraj Choudhary said the investigation was underway and had been handed over to Deputy SP Rahul Joshi, Circle Officer for Bhilwara’s Mandal.
The FIR names five accused and has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to unlawful assembly and criminal intimidation, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Courtesy : Maktoob Media
Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights