Representational.
Jaipur: Five people have been booked in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district after two Dalit men alleged that they were subjected to caste-based abuse and forcibly made to sit on the ground during an Independence Day programme at a government school, according to India Today.
The incident was reported on August 15 at a school in Bhakliya village, where complainants Rameshwarlal Bairwa and Gopilal Bairwa, both members of the Scheduled Caste community, were attending the celebrations. According to the FIR, the two men were seated on chairs with other members of their community when the accused allegedly confronted them and objected to their occupying the chairs.
The accused, identified as Balu Vaishnav, Heeralal Sharma, Narayan Jat, Rameshwar Jat and Prakash Jat, allegedly subjected the men to caste-related verbal abuse and demanded that they move to the ground. When the complainants refused, they were allegedly threatened, intimidated and forcibly removed from the chairs.
The alleged incident occurred in the presence of students, teachers and other villagers, leaving the complainants humiliated and distressed, according to the FIR. The accused also allegedly threatened that a local Anganwadi centre would be closed because two Dalit women were employed there as Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was registered based on the complaint submitted by the two men.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rahul Joshi has been tasked with investigating the allegations. Police said further investigation into the incident is underway.