Dalit Elderly Man Held Hostage and Beaten for Failure to Greet with Folded Hands

Chhatarpur- Incidents of caste-based attacks on Dalits continue to emerge in Madhya Pradesh, with the latest case surfacing in Chhatarpur district. An elderly Dalit man was allegedly assaulted by individuals from the upper caste merely because he did not greet them with folded hands. The victim claims to have been held hostage and beaten for three hours before being released. Following the incident, the elderly man sustained injuries and was unable to walk, prompting his family to carry him to the SP office. Subsequently, the police registered an FIR in response to the complaint.

According to available information, a 59-year-old man residing in Udaipura village within the jurisdiction of Khajuraho police station was assaulted by Akhilesh Dubey and Ramji Pandey, fellow villagers. The victim narrated to the police that he was en route to the ration shop to collect supplies when he passed in front of the accused's house. Upon discovering the shop's closure, upon his return, Ramji Pandey and Awadhesh Dubey intercepted the Dalit man, criticizing him for not greeting them with folded hands when passing earlier.

The victim reported that both individuals then took him hostage and subjected him to physical assault. He alleged that the ordeal lasted three hours during which caste-related slurs were used. The attackers tied him up and assaulted the soles of his feet, rendering him unable to walk.

The victim's wife lamented, "The bullies in the village frequently harass us, even preventing us from leaving our house wearing slippers. My husband was tied and beaten for three hours, leaving him unable to walk. We tried calling the police emergency vehicle (dial 100) after the incident, but the miscreants chased it away. Fearing further repercussions, instead of going to the police station, we went directly to the SP office, demanding action."

The victim and family members, approached the Superintendent of Police's office. Acting on the directives of Chhatarpur SP Amit Sanghi, the Khajuraho police station registered a case against the accused under various sections, including assault and atrocity. SI Markandey Mishra confirmed that an investigation is underway, and efforts are being made to locate and apprehend the accused.

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