Madhya Pradesh— Currently after Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh is becoming the second state from where the highest number of caste atrocities against Dalits and incidents of violence against women, and persecution of Adivasis are being reported. The latest news comes from the Guna region of ​​Madhya Pradesh where even the corpse of a Dalit person has been subjected to discrimination in the performance of their last rites. The kin of the deceased person has alleged that they were barred from performing the last rites for their late relative on the platform built for the purpose of the cremation ground. Following a complaint, however, the police have arrested three people accused in the case.

What was the whole incident?

The incident happened in Chandpur village in the Kumbhraj police station catchment in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh. The police came forward with a statement after a video of the incident viral on social media. The viral video shows a person saying that the "Dalit family is not allowed to use the platform in the cremation ground for performing last rites."

According to media reports, the official in charge at Kumbhraj police station said that after Kanhaiya Ahirwar (70), a resident of Chandpura village, died on Friday, his family members arrived at the cremation ground to perform his last rites. But three villagers allegedly barred the family from using the platform on the cremation ground. The official further stated that the family then cremated the body on the ground adjacent to the platform. On receiving information about the matter, the police also reached the spot.

Suraj Kumar Bauddh, a Dalit activist and founder of Mission Ambedkar, posted a tweet accompanied by a video of the said incident.

On retweeting Suraj's post with the video link, Rajendra Pal Gautam, a cabinet minister in the Delhi government, commented, "I think it is high time that the Government of India brought such cases to the notice of the Hon'ble Supreme Court for due consideration of why people from Dalit, Adivasi and other marginalized communities of our society are living a life worse than animals in their own country, and becoming victims of caste oppression even after death? Are we not humans too?

Founder of Tribal Army, Hansraj Meena, wrote: "Goons barring of the cremation of the corpse of a Dalit person at a government cremation ground in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh – for this to happen indeed shameful in the today's 21st century India. Chief Minister @ChouhanShivraj Ji, will the bulldozer be rolling over the houses of these goons?"

Three arrested in the case

The official in charge of the police station said that from among the people associated with the incident, the police have arrested three people, identified as Narayan Singh Meena, Rambharose Meena, and Dilip Meena. They have been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A case has been registered and on Saturday, the accused were produced in court, from where they were sent to jail.