A disturbing incident of caste-based harassment has come to light from Chitai Purwa village in Mauganj district, Madhya Pradesh, where a Dalit man, Ashok Saket, was subjected to severe abuse simply for sitting on a chair outside his home. The incident, which occurred on November 10, has sparked widespread outrage after a video of the confrontation went viral on social media.
Ashok, a member of the Scheduled Caste community, was sitting outside his house when Mayank Dwivedi, a local resident, passed by. According to Ashok’s account, Mayank became infuriated at the sight of Ashok seated on a chair and allegedly hurled casteist slurs at him, saying, “You are from a lower caste; you have no right to sit on a chair in front of us.” Ashok attempted to reason with him, explaining that he was seated in front of his own house, but Mayank’s anger only escalated, and he continued to abuse Ashok with derogatory caste-based remarks.
Ashok filed a police complaint after the altercation, but he alleged that when he approached the Laur police station, his grievances were not taken seriously. He accused the officers of using casteist language against him, which he found deeply hurtful. Despite the delay, an FIR was eventually registered.
However, the harassment did not end there. On the evening of November 10, after Ashok returned from the police station, his house was attacked by unidentified individuals who damaged the door and issued threats, saying, “You filed a complaint with the police; now face the consequences.” This prompted Ashok and his family to seek immediate action from the police against the attackers.
Dalit leaders and activists have strongly condemned the incident, calling it a stark example of the pervasive caste discrimination that still exists in society. Pradeep Ahirwar, President of the Scheduled Caste wing of Congress in Madhya Pradesh, stated, “This incident is a reflection of the deep-rooted casteism that continues to plague our society. The government must take immediate and strict action against those responsible for this violence.”
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of legal safeguards against caste-based discrimination, particularly under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which criminalizes caste-based abuse and physical assault.
The Mauganj police have confirmed the registration of the FIR and assured that investigations are ongoing. Superintendent of Police Rasna Thakur stated, “Strict action will be taken against the accused. We have not yet received an official complaint about police misconduct, but if the allegations are verified, appropriate action will be taken.”
