In the Banaskantha district of Gujarat, India, a Dalit man was attacked by some members of the upper caste for wearing fashionable clothes and sunglasses. Jigar Shekhalia was assaulted because the attackers felt he was flying too high these days. When his mother tried to intervene, she was also assaulted, and her clothes were torn. The attack occurred on Tuesday night in Mota village, and both victims are receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
An FIR has been filed at the Gadh police station, with Shekhalia lodging a complaint against seven individuals. The accused are believed to carry the Rajput surname, and several were displeased with Shekhalia’s fashionable clothing and eyewear. One of the attackers threatened Shekhalia outside his home on Tuesday morning, and later six of them approached him outside a village temple, demanding an explanation for his attire. Following a heated argument, the attackers used sticks to assault Shekhalia. As his mother tried to save him, the assailants attacked her and tore her clothes.
The accused face charges according to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Indian Penal Code. These charges include rioting, unlawful assembly, outraging the modesty of a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, and using abusive language.
The incident highlights the ongoing discrimination against Dalits and the importance of protecting them from violence. It is also a reminder of the need to address social inequality and promote unity and respect for diversity in India.
