By Muslim Mirror Staff
Three Dalit labourers, including two minors, were subjected to a brutal assault, including being hanged upside down, over allegations of goat and pigeon theft. The incident occurred in Haregaon village, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. Seven individuals have been named in the case, with two of them already apprehended.
The disturbing video capturing the assault, reportedly recorded by one of the accused, has gone viral, exposing the gruesome ordeal the victims endured. The footage portrays the Dalit men suspended upside down, visibly distressed, as they plead with folded hands while their attackers continue their merciless thrashing.
Sources reveal that the victims were employed in Haregaon and were suspected of pilfering goats and pigeons from Galande’s Basti in Undirgaon. Following the brutal assault, the severely injured victims were promptly transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Srirampur’s Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Swati Bhor and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandeep Mitke have taken statements from the victims and their relatives, seeking to piece together the events leading up to the incident.
The circulation of the viral video prompted an outcry from Dalit rights groups and activists, who are demanding stringent action against the accused.
Prakash Ambedkar, the leader of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), took to social media to express his distress over the escalating incidents of caste-based atrocities across the nation. He highlighted the persistent issue of caste discrimination and called for a challenge against the prevailing indifference towards these grave concerns.
Ambedkar alleged that the victims not only suffered physical abuse but were also subjected to degrading acts, including being spat on, urinated upon, and forced to consume their own spit. He pledged to fight against this systemic discrimination and vowed to bring about change on behalf of the oppressed.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Shivpuje, leading the investigation, confirmed the identification of all seven accused, with two already under arrest. Assuring swift action, he affirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.
A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 307 (attempt to murder), 364 (kidnapping), 341 (wrongful restraint), 190 (threats to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), and 149 (unlawful assembly), along with Section 31 A of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
