In Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, two Dalit men were reportedly attacked in separate incidents involving caste-Hindu assailants. One man was brutally beaten and subjected to casteist language, while the other was assaulted with sharp weapons, resulting in significant injuries.
The first incident took place on September 8, involving a 26-year-old Dalit salesman named Kaushendra. He was allegedly assaulted by three men—Pitam, Umesh, and Rajendra—belonging to the Saini community. This altercation erupted when Kaushendra confronted the men for their abusive behavior towards officials from the Electricity Department, one of whom, Mohit, is a relative of his. Angered by his objection, the attackers reportedly physically assaulted him and hurled derogatory terms such as “chamar,” which is a pejorative used against Dalits.
Kaushendra sustained injuries during the assault and has since lodged a complaint with the Rehra police station, requesting strict action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, local sources claim that police response has been slow, with the assailants yet to be apprehended. An eyewitness, Mohit, corroborated Kaushendra’s account of the attack.
In a separate incident on August 17, another Dalit youth named Shivam Singh, from Musallepur in Amroha, was reportedly attacked by four upper-caste individuals—Siddhanth, Vaibhav, Subodh, and Ritik. Shivam intervened when he observed the men drinking alcohol in a desolate area near a local petrol station. In the ensuing attack, he was struck with sharp objects, sustaining severe injuries that damaged his veins and necessitated a 15-day hospitalization. As a result of the injuries, one of his hands has lost functionality.
Shivam’s father, Baburam, filed a complaint at the Bachraun police station the following day, yet reported a lack of follow-up action. The complaint was officially registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code on August 18. Baburam stated, “My son suffered severe injuries and they had threatened him to take his life.” He further alleged that the police have pressured him and his family to withdraw the case.
Dalit rights organizations have condemned the incidents as blatant manifestations of caste-based oppression, particularly criticizing the role of government officials. A local activist from the Bhim Army remarked, “When government employees use their authority to humiliate and assault Dalits, it shows how deep-rooted casteism is in our institutions.” Activists argue these incidents underline the vulnerability of Dalit communities and the prevailing impunity enjoyed by dominant caste groups in the region.
Chandrashekhar Azad, a Member of Parliament from Nagina constituency, has taken to social media to express outrage over these events, warning that mass protests will occur if the attackers are not arrested promptly. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Azad emphasized, “If swift action is not taken, the party will launch a mass movement against the state government.”
Amroha police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing under the SC/ST Act, affirming that they will ensure the prompt arrest of the individuals who are currently absconding.
Tags: Dalit, caste-Hindu, Amroha, Bhim Army, agitation
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