In Morena, Madhya Pradesh, a Dalit e-rickshaw driver was reportedly abducted, assaulted and publicly humiliated by a group of men on Saturday evening.
The victim, a 40-year-old man from Jatawar village, said he was returning home after dropping passengers when his e-rickshaw was stopped on National Highway 44 near a canal.
According to his complaint, around two dozen people arrived in a tractor trolley and blocked his path. “They pulled me out of the e-rickshaw, threw me on the road and started beating me,” the victim told police.
He alleged that several men, including those identified as Dilip Gurjar, Bhura Gurjar and Surendra Gurjar, kicked and thrashed him with sticks before forcibly taking him away.
Stripped, Humiliated and Paraded in Village
The victim said he was taken to nearby villages where the assault continued. “They stripped me, put a garland of shoes around my neck and beat me again,” he said.
He further alleged that he was paraded half-naked in Janakpur village and forced to sit in public while being assaulted. “I was held hostage for half an hour and humiliated at gunpoint,” he added.
Old Dispute Behind Attack, Says Victim
The driver claimed the attack was linked to an earlier dispute with some of the accused during Diwali last year.
“They had assaulted me earlier too, and I filed a police case. Since then, they were pressuring me to compromise,” he said. “When I refused, they targeted me and did this to scare me.”
Police Register Case, Offer Different Version
Police said a case has been registered against five accused, including Bhura Gurjar, Surendra Gurjar and others. One accused has been arrested, and a search is underway for the remaining suspects.
However, Station House Officer Udaybhan Singh Yadav initially described the incident as a “scuffle” linked to an old dispute.
Later, he presented another version, stating that the accused were passengers in the e-rickshaw and allegedly attacked the driver after refusing to pay fare.
“It could be an old dispute. But if that were the case, why would they travel with him?” Yadav said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
Political Reactions and Demand for Justice
The incident has sparked outrage in the region, with leaders from groups like Bhim Army, Bahujan Samaj Party and Azad Samaj Party reaching the police station to demand strict action.
