A case has been registered against 42 people in Bati village, Mathura, for allegedly forcibly applying colours on a group of Dalits on Holi, leading to a violent clash, police said on Saturday.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on Dhulendi – the day Holi is played – when some upper-caste youths allegedly tried to forcefully smear colours on Dalit villagers. The situation escalated into a violent altercation, with both sides using sticks and pelting stones. At least a dozen people were injured in the clash.
However, after the incident, police initially registered a case against 32 Dalits, leading to the arrest of nine individuals, who were later sent to jail.
Protesting against this, Dalit groups staged a sit-in demonstration at the Mathura Collectorate on Friday, demanding a case against the upper-caste individuals involved in the incident.
Following this, Circle Officer (Sadar) Sandeep Kumar Singh confirmed that a case was filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint by a Dalit woman from the village.
“We are collecting evidence related to the case and will ensure a fair investigation,” Singh stated.
