– Zaina Aman
In Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, police registered two FIRs concerning an incident where two Dalit youths, accused of stealing goats, were allegedly assaulted, forcibly tonsured, and paraded with slippers as garlands.
According to The Indian Express, the incident occurred on December 27 within the jurisdiction of Biridi police station. Odisha Congress leader Amiya Pandav brought attention to the issue by sharing a video of the assault on social media platform X on Saturday morning. In the video, the assailants are seen cutting the victims’ hair with scissors, further humiliating them.
Police reported that the two men were transporting goats in an autorickshaw when locals allegedly chased and apprehended them. The police later rescued the men, filed theft charges against them, and sent them to judicial custody. Both were released on bail thereafter.
Seven individuals have been charged in connection with the assault under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In a complaint filed on January 1, one of the victims’ fathers stated that his son and a friend were returning from Simadala village when locals intercepted their autorickshaw near the Baredia bridge, close to the panchayat office. The group allegedly demanded their names and places of origin.
Upon learning their identities, the mob reportedly hurled casteist slurs, accused the duo of theft, and physically assaulted them. The father also claimed that a silver necklace belonging to his son was stolen during the attack.
Condemning the incident, Congress leader Amiya Pandav posted on X: “Lawlessness defines BJP-ruled Odisha. Look at how two Dalit youths were treated in Jagatsinghpur! Human dignity is at stake. Shame on the so-called double engine government!”
