A Dalit man has reportedly been attacked and subjected to caste-based abuse in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The incident occurred after the man won a tender from the Travancore Devaswom Board to prepare ‘unni appam’ for the upcoming pilgrimage season at the famous Sabarimala temple. The accused individuals allegedly slapped the man and hurled derogatory caste-based remarks at him, claiming that individuals from lower castes were not allowed to participate in devaswom tenders until all upper-caste individuals were eliminated from society.
The victim, Subi, filed a complaint with the police, leading to the registration of a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act-1989. The accused individuals, identified as Jagadeesh and Ramesh, are currently absconding, and the police have intensified their search for them.
Sharing his account of the incident, Subi explained that the accused individuals confronted him while he was in the parking lot of the Devaswom Board office in Nandancode. They referred to him using a derogatory term associated with his caste and questioned why he had participated in the Sabarimala tender, which they believed belonged exclusively to Hindus and not to individuals from lower castes. They further threatened to prohibit him from entering the temple compound and proceeded to spit on his face in front of several witnesses.
Subi revealed that the accused individuals had also participated in the tender but were evidently upset about not winning. He maintained that although success and failure are part of life, resorting to violence and attacking someone based on these outcomes is unjustifiable.
The police authorities have confirmed the presence of eyewitnesses supporting Subi’s claims and are actively working to locate the accused individuals. An officer stated that a case has been registered, and efforts to trace the suspects are underway.
This incident highlights the prevalent issue of caste discrimination in India, where individuals from lower castes continue to face social inequality and mistreatment. The attack on Subi serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted prejudices that persist in society and the need for stricter implementation of laws against caste-based atrocities.
Caste-based discrimination is an enduring problem in India, despite legal provisions and efforts to promote social justice and equality. The incident at Sabarimala temple serves as a grim reminder of the challenges still faced by marginalized communities and underscores the importance of continued efforts to eradicate caste-based discrimination from society.
