A sensational incident of cruelty with two Dalits has come to light in Ganjam district of Odisha. Here, some people cut the hair of two persons on suspicion of animal trafficking. He was brutally beaten. Not only this, they were forced to walk on their knees and eat grass. The police have registered a case against the accused in this case and detained six people.
Ganjam SP Suvendu Kumar Patra said that the incident took place on Sunday in Zahada of Kharigumma village under the boundary of Dharkote police station. The matter came to cognizance after the video of this incident went viral. After this, the police registered a case against the accused under the relevant sections of the Indian Code. Six accused are being questioned in custody.
A police officer said that the victims have been identified as Babula Nayak (54) and Bulu Nayak (42) of Singipur. Both were taking two cows and a calf to their village from Hariur. On the way, he was caught by a group of ‘guards’ in Kharigumma. He was accused of being an animal smuggler. In lieu of leaving them, a demand of 30 thousand rupees was allegedly demanded.
When the victims refused to pay the money, they were barbarized. He was beaten and abusive. The accused took him to a salon and shaved half his head. After this, he was forced to drag more than a kilometer on his knees. If the accused did not fill the mind, then they fed grass to the victims and gave the drain water.
It is being told that the victims somehow managed to escape from the clutches of the crowd. After this, an FIR was lodged against the accused at Dharkote police station on Sunday evening. According to him, Babula’s daughter is going to get married. In it, cows were purchased to give the groom’s side. So both of them were going to their village with them, then they were stopped.
The police have detained six people on Monday. Other people involved in this incident are being searched. The victims are undergoing treatment at the holder Community Health Center. A police officer said that preliminary investigation indicates that the attackers wanted to recover forcibly. He had no purpose like stopping animal trafficking. Strict action will be taken against them.
Sangram Nayak, convenor of Ganjam District Dalit Federation, said that we condemn this cruel caste-based violence. A statewide agitation will be started demanding strict action against these criminals. Former PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik said, “My heart is broken. Two Dalits have been tortured. They have been barbaric. Strict action should be taken in this matter.”