Dalit man assaulted, forced to hold shoe in mouth for demanding salary

Morbi: Police in Gujarat's Morbi city have registered a case against a businesswoman and six others for assaulting a Dalit man, who worked in her company for a fortnight, and forcing him to apologise by holding her footwear in his mouth for demanding his pending salary.

The incident occurred on Wednesday here. The victim, 21-year-old Nilesh Dalsaniya, lodged a complaint, against his employer Vibhuti Patel aka Raniba, and others including her brother Om Patel and manager Parikshit, said Pratipalsinh Zala, Deputy Superintendent of Police (SC/ST Cell).

Patel, owner of Raniba Industries Pvt. Ltd hired Dalsaniya, who is into tiles marketing, in early October on a monthly salary of Rs 12,000. However, his contract was abruptly terminated on October 18.

Raniba Industries has an office in a commercial complex at Ravapar Crossroad. When Dalsaniya sought his salary for the 16 days he had worked, Patel did not provide a clear response and ceased communication.

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"When Dalsaniya, his brother Mehul and neighbour Bhavesh went to Patel's office on Wednesday evening, the businesswoman's brother Om Patel reached the place with his accomplices and started assaulting the trio," Zala said, reports India Today.

Vibhuti Patel also slapped and dragged him to the terrace of the commercial complex, the FIR said. The accused, including Parikshit Patel, Om Patel and six to seven unidentified men, beat him with belts and also kicked and punched him, he said, as quoted by India Today.

Dalsaniya alleged that Vibhuti Patel forced him to take her footwear in his mouth and made him apologise for demanding salary. She also threatened to get him killed if he was seen in the Ravapar Crossroad area again.

The accused also shot a video and forced him to say that he came to Vibhuti's office to extort money. In a video, the accused are seen forcing the victim to apologise for demanding salary from the businesswoman.

After returning home, the Dalit man was taken to Morbi Civil Hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment, the police said.

"All the accused were booked on the charges of assault, criminal intimidation, rioting and under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," Zala said.

Investigation into the case is underway and no arrest has been made yet.

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