Dalit Community Outraged: Advocate Writes to CM for SIT Investigation in Kalyan Assault Case

Maharashtra— Outraged after an incident that took place twelve days ago, wherein a Dalit minor boy was allegedly paraded naked and assaulted in Khadakpada of Kalyan, community people and activists are demanding to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. The police had arrested 12 persons in connection with the case and an investigation is underway. 

The victim who works as a delivery boy in a cake shop was targeted after he asked an Instagram user to refrain from posting objectionable content. The victim had requested the user to delete a video that compared Buddhist customs with those of the Aal Ekveera deity. The video had triggered a wave of abusive comments against Lord Buddha and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, prompting the minor to intervene.

Instead of deleting the video, the user falsely accused the minor of abusing the deity and made the video go viral. On May 19, a group of 40-50 people reportedly kidnapped the boy from his workplace, a cake shop, and subjected him to physical assault, verbal abuse, and public humiliation. They forced him to strip naked, rub his nose on the ground, and paraded him on the streets while filming the entire ordeal.

Letter sent to CM, DGP

The incident has sparked outrage among the Dalit community and human rights activists, who have demanded swift action against the perpetrators. The victim's advocate Jai R Gaikwad has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the Director General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police in Thane, urging them to constitute a SIT to probe the matter.

The advocate has raised suspicions that the attack was pre-planned and aimed at creating communal tension. He has pointed out that the accused persons hail from different cities and it is highly unlikely that they could have gathered at one place without prior planning. He has also alleged that some influential and political people are pressurizing the minor to withdraw the case and are interfering with the investigation.

Gaikwad wrote, "Only few of the accused have been arrested and that even after giving all the names and details of accused persons police failed to arrest them and under the pressure of political people avoiding the same. That it is very necessary to arrest each and every accused person in said matter to reveal the motive of crime."

He further added, "Due to direct influence of some influential and political people over investigation agency/officer there is high possibility that fair and proper investigation cannot be done. That the investigation is slow and frustrating on purpose and there is a need to speed things up. It is bringing the image of law and order at stake and exactly in violation of absolute principle of law that "Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done."

The case has assumed significance due to its sensitive and sensational nature, requiring thorough scientific and evidence-based investigation. The advocate has emphasized the need for officers with experience and requisite expertise to carry out the investigation in an elaborate manner. He has stressed that fair, proper, and detailed investigation is crucial to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore the image of law and order.

The incident has once again highlighted the deep-rooted caste-based discrimination and violence prevalent in Indian society. "The authorities must take swift and decisive action to ensure that such heinous crimes are not repeated in the future and that justice is served to the victim and his family" the counsel said.