MP: Dalit Elderly Couple Tied to Pole, Thrashed and Forced to Wear Shoes’ Garland; 10 Booked

Bhopal: In Ashok Nagar district of Madhya Pradesh, an elderly Dalit couple is reported to have been beaten up and forced to wear shoe garlands as their son was allegedly involved in an incident of eve-teasing.

According to the police, the incident took place on May 17 at Kilora village, which is under the jurisdiction of Mungaoli police station. A case has been filed against 10 people who are at large.

Gabbar Singh Gurjar, the in-charge of the Mungaoli police station, told The Mooknayak, “The victims left the village three months ago after their son allegedly sexually harassed the wife of one of the accused.”

He said 65-year-old Karan Singh aka Kanna Ahirwar and his 60-year-old wife Betibai were visiting the village when they were thrashed, tied to a pole and forced to wear shoe garlands.

They had earlier sought police protection.

The victims are said to have suffered internal injuries. While the husband has suffered fractures in his leg, there are injury marks on his wife’s body.

They underwent a CT scan so that internal injuries can be ascertained. At present, the two are admitted in the district hospital.

Based on the victim woman’s complaint, the police on May 18 filed a case against 10 individuals under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections of 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly with a common purpose), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (obscene act), 506 (criminal intimidation) as well as provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The police said all accused have fled, and searches are on to apprehend them.