In Sakti district, Chhattisgarh, a 21-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly stripped, tied up, and brutally beaten by the family members of a teenage girl. The victim, identified as Rahul Anchal from Dabhra, is a member of the Scheduled Caste Satnami community. The assault took place on April 9, and videos of the attack, which quickly went viral on social media, led to police action.
According to reports, Rahul had visited a 16-year-old girl from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community when he was caught by her family members. The police confirmed that Rahul was initially stripped, tied with ropes, and beaten with slippers, electric wires, and plastic pipes. The next day, he was allegedly stripped once more and publicly assaulted on the streets of his village.
In one video that circulated online, Rahul can be seen sitting under a tree, repeatedly slapped and beaten by an individual. Another video shows him narrating how the girl’s parents had caught him in a room, called others, and subjected him to brutal beating throughout the night. Rahul claimed that despite pleading for water, he was denied it during the assault.
Following the brutal attack, Rahul was admitted to a hospital in Raigarh district for treatment. Human rights activist Degree Prasad Chouhan condemned the inhumane treatment and noted that the police initially hesitated to register a case. However, after the viral videos and mounting public outrage, the police were compelled to take action.
“This is a case of moral policing. It’s a horrific example in Chhattisgarh of a mob deciding right and wrong based on traditional norms and meting out punishment,” said Chouhan. He praised the police for their eventual sensitivity and courage in upholding the law, particularly after campaigns by Dalit rights activists.
Sakti Superintendent of Police, Ankita Sharma, clarified that initially no formal complaint had been lodged by the victim or his family. However, following the viral videos, the police took suo motu cognizance of the case. They consulted community leaders before registering a First Information Report (FIR).
The FIR includes several charges under the Indian Penal Code, including Section 109(2) (attempt to murder), Section 296 (obscene acts), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 126(2) (wrongful restraint), and Section 191(2) (rioting). In addition, provisions from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked.
As of now, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, and investigations are ongoing.
