Bhilwara- Ten days after a horrific caste-driven attack on Vishnu Meghwanshi, a Dalit priest from the Meghwal community, and his family at the Khakul Dev Temple in Barana village, Bhilwara district, Rajasthan, the perpetrators remain at large, intensifying public outrage and exposing the systemic failure to address caste-based violence.

The assault, which occurred on the eve of Independence Day, August 14, saw a mob of 60 to 70 individuals unleash a brutal attack, hurling casteist slurs, vandalizing the temple, and looting valuables, while the local police allegedly stood by. As the community demands justice, Banswara Parliamentarian Rajkumar Roat has warned a Mahapadav protest if swift action is not taken.

The incident unfolded at the Khakul Dev Temple, a private family shrine where the Meghwanshi family has performed rituals for generations. On the night of August 14, Vishnu Meghwanshi and his family were engaged in prayers when a mob from the village, armed with sticks and batons, stormed the temple premises. The attackers vandalized CCTV cameras, railings, and decorative glass, declaring that they would not permit a Dalit priest to conduct worship.

They demanded the formation of a trust to take over the temple’s rituals, hurling casteist abuses and physically assaulting Vishnu, his father Shravan Meghwanshi, and other relatives. The mob looted valuables, including a gold chain from Shravan and a mangalsutra from Vishnu’s wife, before throwing the family out of the temple. Shockingly, the Meghwanshi family alleges that the attack occurred in the presence of Asind police, raising serious questions about law enforcement’s inaction.

Vishnu Meghwanshi promptly filed a complaint at the Asind police station, leading to a case against several identified individuals: Sampat son of Shravan Jat, Mishrilal son of Uday Ram Jat, Banna Lal son of Hardev Jat, Dalu son of Kalyan Jat, Shankar son of Banna Lal Jat, Gajju son of Gopi Jat, Pokhar son of Jamnalal Jat, and Sanwar son of Hardev Jat. The charges include assault and violations under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Despite the gravity of the incident and the filing of an FIR, no arrests have been made as of August 25, fueling anger and distrust among the Dalit community.

The Meghwanshi family revealed that after the death of their traditional priest, Harlal Meghwanshi, a few months ago, Vishnu and his father took over the temple’s rituals. However, certain villagers, citing their Dalit identity, have persistently tried to prevent them from fulfilling their priestly duties. The attackers also violated the dignity of the family’s women during the midnight assault, adding to the family’s trauma.

MP Rajkumar Roat has condemned the incident as a glaring example of the rising atrocities against Dalits in the Asind region. In a statement on X, he criticized the local administration and government for their negligence, noting that such attacks have become alarmingly frequent.

Roat called the failure to arrest the perpetrators a “disgraceful act” and warned that if the authorities do not act swiftly, the Dalit community and supporters will stage a large-scale Mahapadav protest in Bhilwara, holding the administration accountable for any escalation.