Dalits threaten protests after man attacked by Hindu group
MEERUT/ MUZAFFARNAGAR : Dalit organisations have threatened to launch an agitation after a 22-year-old man was allegedly assaulted and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by members of a rightwing Hindu group in Muzaffarnagar, officials said on Wednesday.
A video clip of the assault on Vipin Kumar emerged on Wednesday, sparking caste tension in the region that saw clashes between Dalits and upper caste Thakurs in May.
Police said the incident occurred on January 14 when Vipin was assaulted at MeghaShikarpur village, allegedly for leading a group of Dalits planning to convert to Buddhism after removing the pictures of Hindu deities from their homes.
The attackers were heard saying in the video that they had no objection to Dalits keeping portraits of Dr Ambedkar and worshipping him but that they could not remove pictures of Hindu deities from their homes.
Vipin was forced to chant “Jai Sri Ram” and hail other Hindu gods and goddesses.
Vipin’s father lodged a case against some villagers in Purkazi police station.
Later activists of Dalit organisations such as Bheem Army, Baudh Mahasabha and Jai Sindhu Sangh staged demonstration outside the office of the senior superintendent of police of Muzaffarnagar.
The Bheem Army announced a dharna on Wednesday while the Shahid Udham Singh Sena threatened to launch an agitation if the police failed to arrest the accused. Hundreds of Dalit youth from around a dozen villages also demonstrated at Purkazi Roadways bus stand, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.
The crowd was pacified after police officials assured that the culprits would be arrested within three days. Officers said one accused has been arrested, while search is on for three more.
SSI Purqazi Hoti Singh Rana told HT, “Police had registered a case against Jodha, Dheeraj alias Lalu, Rahul and Kaku Gurjar of Shakarpur village and organised a raid to arrest them but all were found to be absconding.
“Later, a video clip was shared on social media in which four people were seen beating a youth who was reported to be Vipin. The video clip sparked a strong reaction and on Tuesday, Bheem Army activists demonstrated at the SSP’s office.” Police had also reportedly detained two women related to the accused, triggering protests from members of the accused community. The women had to be later released.
City SP Ombeer Singh told HT that extra force had been deployed in nearby areas to maintain law and order. He said police were in contact with prominent people of both Dalit and Gurjar communities, who had agreed to maintain peace.