The Mooknayak Impact: FIR in Bhilwara Caste Row After Dalit Guests Were Allegedly Forced Off Chairs at I-Day Function

Bhilwara, Rajasthan: Few hours after The Mooknayak reported the alleged caste discrimination at a government school in Bhakliya village of Bhilwara, the Dalit community has formally approached the police. Dalit rights activist and author Bhanwar Meghwanshi shared a video on social media capturing this shameful incident that occurred during the Independence Day celebrations. The video was courageously recorded by Badrilal Bairwa, a socially conscious youth from the Dalit community, exposing the casteist mindset prevalent in the village.

After 'The Mooknayak' published a detailed report on the matter prominently on Sunday, the Dalit community held a meeting in the evening and decided to file a police complaint. The complaint was lodged at the Bagor police station by the victims Rameshwarlal Bairwa and Gopilal Bairwa. The FIR names Balu Vaishnav, Hiralal Sharma, Narayan Jat, Narayan, and Prakash Jat as accused.

A case has been registered under Sections 189(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation into the FIR has been entrusted to Rahul Joshi, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for the Mandal circle.

What Happened on August 15?

An Independence Day programme was organised at the government school in Bhakliya village on August 15. For the first time, two members of the Dalit community, Rameshwarlal Bairwa and Gopilal Bairwa, were invited to the stage as guests and seated on chairs. According to the complaint, some people objected to them sitting on the chairs and allegedly abused them and used casteist slurs.

The complainants allege that they were told to sit on the ground and were questioned about their “status” and why they were sitting on chairs when others would have to sit on the ground. They further allege that they were intimidated and forced to get down from the chairs. The complaint also alleges that the accused threatened them by referring to two women from their families who work as an anganwadi worker and helper, saying that they would get the anganwadi centre shut down and would not spare the family.

According to the complainants, the incident took place in front of schoolchildren, teachers and other villagers, causing them mental distress and seriously affecting their dignity and social standing. They have also told the police that they possess audio and video recordings of the incident, which they are ready to submit during the investigation.

Initially, no police complaint was filed after the incident. Badrilal Bairwa told The Mooknayak that a community meeting was held for around two hours on Sunday evening.

According to him, some elders initially felt that it was a village-level matter and questioned whether filing a police complaint was appropriate, fearing that it could escalate the dispute. However, the majority of community members felt that this was not an isolated incident and that they had allegedly faced similar humiliation and discrimination for years.

Moreover, even after 24 hours had passed since the incident, the accused had allegedly neither apologised to the Dalit community nor shown any remorse for their conduct. This led the community to unanimously decide to approach the police in the interest of equality, dignity and social justice.

Badrilal Bairwa thanked The Mooknayak and said that after the report was published, they received widespread support from the Bahujan community on social media. According to him, this support gave the community the confidence to raise its voice and pursue legal action.

The community meeting concluded that instead of treating the matter merely as a village-level dispute, the issue should be pursued through legal channels. The complainants demanded action against the accused under the relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and protection for their families. According to the FIR, the police received the written complaint at 12:12 am on August 17. The case was subsequently registered and the investigation was assigned to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rahul Joshi.

The Question of a Centuries-Old Caste Hierarchy

The Bhakliya incident is not merely a dispute that occurred during an Independence Day programme. Members of the local Dalit community allege that the mindset of caste hierarchy and untouchability continues to be visible in everyday social interactions in the village.

Badrilal Bairwa had earlier told The Mooknayak that members of the SC/ST communities are allegedly made to sit separately when they visit the homes of people from other communities. He also alleged that separate cups and glasses are kept for them and that they are expected to wash and keep the utensils they use themselves.

He said that education is gradually increasing awareness among the younger generation in the village, but that the mindset of social equality has still not become fully established.

Dalit community members said that in public spaces, and particularly in government institutions, no person can be treated differently or denied equal dignity on the basis of caste. It is on this basis that the community has now chosen to pursue legal action.

Initially, some elders were in favour of not taking the matter to the police and resolving it within the village. However, the majority decided to speak out against the alleged humiliation and discrimination that they say has continued for years. Following this decision, Rameshwarlal Bairwa and Gopilal Bairwa submitted a written complaint to the police, leading to the registration of the FIR.

Question of the Dalit community’s Dignity, Equality and Constitutional Rights

Badrilal Bairwa said that the support received from the Bahujan community on social media after The Mooknayak published its report also gave them the courage to move forward.

Meghvanshi, speaking to The Mooknayak, said, “The dispute that began over sitting on chairs during the August 15 programme has now become a question of the Dalit community’s dignity, equality and constitutional rights. The support from the media also gave the villagers confidence, and for the first time, the Dalit community decided to take legal action for its dignity.”

Meghvanshi further said that the incident could have a long-term impact by increasing awareness among people in neighbouring areas and encouraging marginalised communities to become more conscious of their rights and dignity.

He also said that Badrilal Bairwa, a socially aware young man, recorded the incident on video, giving the Dalit community evidence of what they allege was caste-based humiliation in a public place.

Meghvanshi said that Dalit and Bahujan organisations would jointly honour young people like Badrilal in the future to encourage members of the Bahujan community to speak up for their dignity and rights in similar situations.

Following the registration of the FIR, the matter is now under police investigation. The allegations made in the complaint will be examined on the basis of the available video/audio recordings, statements of eyewitnesses and other evidence.