Two Dalits were allegedly caught stealing money from a two-wheeler agency, they were brutally beaten by some of their showroom staffers in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. The matter was known to people when a video of the assault went viral. Police have already detained five persons connected with the incident.
Station House Officer of Panchori police station Rajpal Singh said, “Two persons were caught stealing money on Sunday after which they were brutally thrashed by the showroom employees. A video was shot which went viral after which the victims lodged an FIR on Wednesday,”
He reiterates that the staffers have also lodged a case against the two Dalits for stealing money.
Five persons have been so far detained in connection with assaulting the Dalits, the official said, adding the matter is under investigation.
A video of the incident, which occurred on February 16 in Karnu village of Nagaur’s Panchori area, went viral on the Internet and evoked public outrage.
“What emboldens them to torture a Dalit person, record it and share the video? At times, it feels we are still living in medieval times,” said Mimroth, the head of Centre for Dalit Rights, Jaipur.
The video showed the perpetrators dousing a screwdriver with petrol and inserting it in the rectum of the victim. The former alleged that the duo had tried to steal money from the cashbox at a motorcycle showroom, the SP added.
The five persons arrested are Hanuman Singh, Aidan Singh, Raghuvir Singh, Chhail Singh and Rehmatullah. While Hanuman is the owner, others are workers at the agency.
The accused have been charged under sections of SC/ST Act, for body offences, voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful confinement among other charges. The police officer also said that some more arrests are expected today.
