Nagaur- Incidents of caste-based discrimination continue to emerge in rural Rajasthan. Recently, a disturbing case was reported in Kantiya village, Nagaur district, where a Meghwal youth faced casteist abuse. The victim filed a complaint at Khinvsar police station on June 2. Police have registered a case under Sections 3(1)(r) (caste-based humiliation) and 3(1)(s) (intimidation) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and initiated action against the accused. The investigation has been handed over to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Nagaur Circle).

Advocate Bhartaraj Jogson, speaking to The Mooknayak, shared that on June 1, around 7 PM, the victim, Omprakash (21), son of Mukna Ram, and his companion Ashok, son of Ganga Ram (both from the Meghwal community), were traveling to their relative Harkaram’s house in Kantiya on a motorcycle. They stopped at Nagaji Kirana Store, where Omprakash drank water from an earthen pot kept outside.

Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper and local men hurled casteist slurs, pushed him, and even threatened to kill him. The accused—Kalu Ram (owner of Nagaji Kirana Store), Omprakash (owner of an electronics shop), and Narsi Ram (owner of Veer Teja Agro Agency)—asked his name and caste. When Omprakash revealed he belonged to the Meghwal community, they abused him further.

The victim pleaded, "The pot was kept outside, so I drank water. I even cleaned the glass with sand and returned it." But the accused were not satisfied—they physically assaulted him and threatened his life. Later that night, around 11:30 PM, the accused returned in a camper vehicle (RJ 21 GC 2257), circled Harkaram’s house multiple times, dragged the car tires to create noise, and tried to intimidate the family.

Advocate Jogson revealed that around 150 Meghwal families live in the village, while the accused belong to the dominant Jat community. He stated that caste-based discrimination is common in nearby areas, but police and administration remain indifferent. Despite complaints, authorities often collude with perpetrators, allowing such incidents to persist unchecked.