Uttar Pradesh: Dalit Man Assaulted, Forced to Lick Man’s Shoes; Accused Arrested
The accused has been identified as Tejbali Singh Patel, a contractual lineman in the Shahganj area of Sonbhadra district, and a case has been lodged against him under the SC/ST Act.
Tejbali Singh Patel can be seen assaulting the victim in a viral video. Photo: Screengrab from video
The accused has been identified as Tejbali Singh Patel, a contractual lineman in the Shahganj area of Sonbhadra district, and a case has been lodged against him based on a complaint by Chamar. He has reportedly been arrested.
“I had gone to my uncle’s house. There was some issue with the power wire, and I was looking at it. Tejbali reached there and started assaulting me with sticks. He also made me spit on his shoes and lick it. For two days, I didn’t say anything. But now, I have come to lodge a case,” Chamar told reporters about the incident.
“On July 8, we received two viral videos through social media. In the videos, a person identified as Tejbali… The lineman started assaulting him. He also made him do sit-ups while holding his ears and made him lick his shoes,” Sonbhadra circle officer (Ghorawal) Amit Kumar said, according to The Indian Express.
The FIR against Patel invokes IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation), and sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Uttar Pradesh director general of police has also reportedly taken note of the incident. “The DGP has given directions for the strictest legal action against the accused,” UP Police said in a tweet.