Shocking Caste Violence in Rajasthan: 8-YO Tricked into Cleaning Toilet with Promise of Chocolate, Savagely Beaten for Touching Water Pot

Barmer- A shocking incident of alleged caste-based brutality has emerged from Gudamalani in Barmer district, where an 8-year-old boy from the Vargari (Scheduled Caste) community was brutally assaulted by men from an upper caste after he touched a water pot and asked for water.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 26, has led to the registration of an FIR under sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) and the stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The victim's mother, Puri Devi, wife of the late Parsa Ram, filed a detailed complaint at the Gudamalani police station. According to her statement, her son, was playing in Bhakharpura village when the accused, identified as Narana Ram, Dema Ram, and Rupa Ram (all from the Prajapat community), lured him with the promise of a chocolate.

The accused first made the young boy clean utensils and gather garbage, exploiting him for menial labour. After the work was done, the boy asked for the promised chocolate. The accused refused. Thirsty from the work, the child then asked for water and reached for a water pot (matka).

This act of touching the water pot, seemingly a violation of caste hierarchy, enraged the accused. They, along with Rupa Ram's wife, allegedly began beating the boy mercilessly until he cried loudly. They let him go, and the traumatized child ran home.

When the boy was narrating the incident to his mother, the accused arrived at their house. They allegedly assaulted Puri Devi and also pushed and manhandled her mother-in-law, Choti Devi.

The accused then allegedly took the boy away to Narana Ram's house. When the family followed, they were met with a horrifying sight: the boy had been hung upside down from a tree and was being beaten.

The family pleaded for the boy's release, citing a past family tragedy. When a relative, Dashrath, started recording a video of the assault, the accused quickly untied the boy from the tree in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Puri Devi filed a written complaint at the Gudamalani police station on the same day, August 26, at 11:50 AM. The police registered an FIR in the case. The accused—Narana Ram, Dema Ram, and Rupa Ram—have been booked under Sections 115(2), 127(2), and 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Furthermore, since the victim's family belongs to the Vargari caste (Scheduled Caste), action is also being taken under Sections 3(1)(r) (intentionally insulting or intimidating with intent to humiliate a member of an SC/ST in a public view), 3(1)(s) (abusing a member of an SC/ST by caste name in public), and 3(1)(IV) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Advocate Bhatraj Jogsan stated that while the police have registered the case, no action has been taken against the accused so far. This case is a glaring example of the communal violence prevalent in rural areas and the atrocities being committed against the Dalit community.