A shocking incident has taken place in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, where a Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death, and his mother was publicly humiliated by a mob consisting of hundreds of people. This heinous attack was triggered by a sexual harassment case that had been filed by the victim’s sister in 2019. Tragically, the sister herself was also assaulted when she tried to protect her family from the aggressors.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lokesh Kumar, the young man had been involved in an ongoing feud arising from previous conflicts within the jurisdiction of the Khurai police station. He was brutally assaulted by the opposing party, which ultimately led to his demise when he was taken to the hospital.
ASP Lokesh Kumar added that nine individuals have been charged with murder, while three others will face charges under the stringent provisions of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Act. As of now, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The victim’s sister revealed that pressure was exerted on her to withdraw the case, which eventually resulted in the brutal attack on her family. She recounted how her brother was subjected to brutal beatings until he couldn’t survive, and how she was stripped naked by the mob. The police arrived later and provided her with a towel, leaving her standing there until they arranged for a saree.
The mob not only brutally attacked the family but also ravaged and vandalized their house. Nothing remained intact, with even the solid roofs shattered. The mob then proceeded to search for the victim’s two other sons in another house.
The victim’s aunt shared a harrowing account of how the mob forcibly entered her home, terrorizing her husband and children. They even rummaged through their refrigerator. The entire village is tense, with a significant police presence deployed in the aftermath of the incident.
The district collector assured the victim’s family of assistance through government measures and informed them about the arrests. The family performed the final rites of their loved one. In 2019, the victim’s sister had filed a case against four men, accusing them of threats and physical assault. All four were arrested, and the case is now before the courts.
The incident has sparked political controversy in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the lead-up to upcoming elections. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party, have criticized the ruling BJP government. In response, the ruling party contends that swift action has been taken and accuses the Congress of adopting a selective approach to criminal incidents.
Mayawati took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express her concern, stating that atrocities against the devotees of Guru Ravidas are at their peak in the same area where Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Guru Ravidas’s memorial. She sees it as evidence of the BJP’s dual character.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the ongoing oppression faced by Dalits and tribals in Madhya Pradesh, a state that is heading for elections soon. He alleges that the state has the highest rate of crimes against Dalits and accuses the BJP of fostering an environment conducive to such atrocities.
State Congress chief Kamal Nath demanded financial aid for the victim’s family and claimed that the accused individuals were affiliated with the BJP. In response, Madhya Pradesh Minister Bhupendra Singh argued that the crime was the result of a preexisting dispute and accused the Congress of exploiting the incident for political gain.
State BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal emphasized that his party’s government had acted promptly in response to the case. He contrasted this with what he described as a lack of action by Congress-led governments in cases of Dalit atrocities in states under their control.
