Chhattisgarh: Dalit Youth Brutally Assaulted, Stripped, and Humiliated; Case Registered

Sakti, Chhattisgarh— In a shocking incident in Sakti district, a 21-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly stripped, tied up, and brutally beaten by the family members of a teenage girl. The victim, identified as Rahul Anchal from Dabhra, belongs to the Scheduled Caste Satnami community. The assault took place on April 9, and a video of the incident, which went viral on social media, prompted police action.

According to reports, Rahul had gone to meet a 16-year-old girl from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community when he was caught by her family. Police officials stated that Rahul was stripped, tied with ropes, and beaten with slippers, electric wires, and plastic pipes. The next day, on April 9, he was allegedly stripped again and publicly assaulted on the village streets.

In one viral video, Rahul can be seen sitting under a tree, repeatedly slapped and beaten by an individual. Another video shows him recounting how the girl’s parents caught him in a room, called others, and beat him throughout the night. During the assault, Rahul was reportedly denied water despite pleading for it.

Following the incident, Rahul was admitted to a hospital in neighboring Raigarh district for treatment.

Human rights activist Degree Prasad Chouhan told The Mooknayak that the youth was subjected to inhumane treatment. He noted that the police initially hesitated to register a case, but mounting public outrage and pressure from the viral video forced them to act.

Sakti’s Superintendent of Police, Ankita Sharma, clarified, “Initially, no formal complaint was lodged by the victim or his family. However, after the video went viral, the police took suo motu cognizance. We consulted community leaders and subsequently registered an FIR.”

The case has been filed under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 109(2) (attempt to murder), Section 296 (obscene acts), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 126(2) (wrongful restraint), and Section 191(2) (rioting). Additionally, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been invoked.

So far, five individuals have been taken into custody, and further investigations are underway.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with calls for strict action against the perpetrators and measures to prevent such acts of violence and discrimination in the future.