Gautam Buddh Nagar- In a shocking incident of caste-based violence, a young Dalit electrician was brutally assaulted in Roshanpur village under Dankaur police station limits, Gautam Buddh Nagar on June 27. The victim, Rajesh Jatav (25), an electrical mechanic by profession, was attacked by Sagar Nagar, Anil Bidhuri (alias Balua), and Subodh Nagar from neighboring Junedpur village after he refused to perform electrical work for them.

The attackers allegedly hurled casteist slurs like "Chamar, Dhedh, neech!" (low caste) and threatened, "How dare you refuse us? We'll make sure you can't live in this village," before mercilessly beating Rajesh with kicks, punches, and bricks until he lost consciousness.

Despite the severity of the attack and clear provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Dankaur police have failed to invoke appropriate sections or make arrests even after four days. Shockingly, Investigating Officer Upendra Kumar registered the FIR without recording the victim's statement or properly examining the complaint filed by Rajesh's wife Suman.

The victim remains hospitalized with critical injuries, while the police are allegedly pressuring the family for an out-of-court settlement rather than pursuing justice.

Social activists have condemned the incident as symptomatic of rising anti-Dalit violence in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking with The Mooknayak, Nirdesh Singh, a Dalit rights activist, stated, "UP is becoming a torture chamber for Dalits. A man was nearly killed just for asserting his right to refuse unpaid labor, and the police are complicit in protecting the perpetrators."

She emphasized, "This isn't just physical violence but a message to terrorize the entire Dalit community into submission. The SC/ST Act must be invoked immediately."

Demands are growing for immediate arrest of the accused, compensation and government job for the victim, and disciplinary action against negligent police officials. While Dankaur cops claim about ongoing investigation, the delayed response has fueled anger among local residents and civil society groups, who warn of protests if justice isn't served promptly.

The case highlights systemic failures in protecting marginalized communities despite constitutional safeguards, raising serious questions about Uttar Pradesh's law-and-order machinery under the current administration.