The Crossbill News Desk
A shocking case of caste-based humiliation has surfaced from Lucknow’s Kakori area, where an elderly Dalit man was allegedly humiliated and forced to lick the ground near his home after being accused of urinating by another man, according to his family.
The incident, which occurred on Diwali (October 20), has sparked widespread outrage and political condemnation. Police have arrested the accused, identified as 62-year-old Swami Kant, in connection with the case, The Indian Express reported.
According to the victim’s family, Rampal, who suffers from breathing difficulties, had accidentally urinated near his house on Monday evening.
“My grandfather has a breathing problem. Because he was unable to get up and reach the toilet, he accidentally urinated on the ground. At that time, the accused happened to be passing by. He verbally abused and scolded my grandfather and allegedly forced him to lick the urine as a form of punishment. Later, he made him clean the area by washing it with water,” alleged Rampal’s grandson, Mukesh.
He added, “When my grandfather told us about the incident the next day, we immediately went to the police station and got a complaint lodged.”
However, police said the complainant’s version in the FIR differed from what was initially claimed by family members.
According to Station House Officer (SHO) Satish Chandra of Kakori police station, Rampal stated in his complaint that he was sitting inside the temple premises when some water spilled in front of him from a bottle. The accused allegedly assumed it was urine and began verbally abusing and threatening him.
“When the victim protested and denied the accusation, the accused allegedly forced him to touch the spilled water with his finger and then place it on his tongue to ‘prove’ that the water was pure. Kant also allegedly made casteist remarks and issued threats,” SHO Chandra told the newspaper.
An FIR has been registered under charges of criminal intimidation and other related offences, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“We arrested the accused, Swami Kant, in connection with the case,” the SHO confirmed.
Police added that the accused, who belongs to a backward class and works in the jewellery trade, claimed during questioning that he had only asked the victim to touch the water.
Opposition parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Azad Samaj Party condemned the incident and accused the BJP government of fostering caste-based discrimination.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X in Hindi, “Just because someone makes a mistake doesn’t mean they deserve a humiliating or inhuman punishment. Only change can bring about change.”
The Congress, in a post on X, described the incident as “a blot on humanity” in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.
“This incident is a symbol of the anti-Dalit mentality of RSS-BJP. Hatred towards Dalits runs in their blood… This is precisely why they want to abolish the Constitution in the country and implement Manuvad, so that they can exploit people on the basis of caste,” it said.
The incident, which occurred on Diwali (October 20), has sparked widespread outrage and political condemnation. Police have arrested the accused, identified as 62-year-old Swami Kant, in connection with the case, The Indian Express reported.
According to the victim’s family, Rampal, who suffers from breathing difficulties, had accidentally urinated near his house on Monday evening.
“My grandfather has a breathing problem. Because he was unable to get up and reach the toilet, he accidentally urinated on the ground. At that time, the accused happened to be passing by. He verbally abused and scolded my grandfather and allegedly forced him to lick the urine as a form of punishment. Later, he made him clean the area by washing it with water,” alleged Rampal’s grandson, Mukesh.
He added, “When my grandfather told us about the incident the next day, we immediately went to the police station and got a complaint lodged.”
However, police said the complainant’s version in the FIR differed from what was initially claimed by family members.
According to Station House Officer (SHO) Satish Chandra of Kakori police station, Rampal stated in his complaint that he was sitting inside the temple premises when some water spilled in front of him from a bottle. The accused allegedly assumed it was urine and began verbally abusing and threatening him.
“When the victim protested and denied the accusation, the accused allegedly forced him to touch the spilled water with his finger and then place it on his tongue to ‘prove’ that the water was pure. Kant also allegedly made casteist remarks and issued threats,” SHO Chandra told the newspaper.
An FIR has been registered under charges of criminal intimidation and other related offences, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“We arrested the accused, Swami Kant, in connection with the case,” the SHO confirmed.
Police added that the accused, who belongs to a backward class and works in the jewellery trade, claimed during questioning that he had only asked the victim to touch the water.
Opposition parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Azad Samaj Party condemned the incident and accused the BJP government of fostering caste-based discrimination.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X in Hindi, “Just because someone makes a mistake doesn’t mean they deserve a humiliating or inhuman punishment. Only change can bring about change.”
The Congress, in a post on X, described the incident as “a blot on humanity” in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.
“This incident is a symbol of the anti-Dalit mentality of RSS-BJP. Hatred towards Dalits runs in their blood… This is precisely why they want to abolish the Constitution in the country and implement Manuvad, so that they can exploit people on the basis of caste,” it said.
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