The poor Dalit was found guilty by a kangaroo court apparently on two counts. Firstly, he defied BJP diktat on the film, and secondly, equated Pandits with Dalits.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a bizarre incident reminiscent of the lawlessness of medieval times, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, a Dalit, was made to rub his nose on a platform inside a temple in Rajasthan’s Alwar district as a punishment. His “crime” was the comments he dared to make over ‘The Kashmir Files’in his Facebook post on.
Apparently some members of the Hindu community belonging to the upper castes, ostensibly BJP supporters, found his Facebook comments offensive, hence the punishment. They seem to be oblivious of the fact that we are a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law.
The poor Dalit was found guilty by a kangaroo court held in the temple premises on two counts. Firstly, the film is supported by the BJP had no deterrent on him. Secondly, he allegedly “committed a sacrilege” by equating Pandits with Dalit by questioning as to whether atrocities had happened with Pandits alone, and not with Dalits.
The incident occurred under Behror Police Station on Monday. A video of the same went viral in which the victim, Meghwal, is purportedly seen rubbing his nose in a temple under pressure from people present there.
Police registered an FIR against 11 people on Tuesday night under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and seven accused have been arrested, police said.
Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, who works in a private bank, had reportedly criticised ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie on Facebook two-three days ago. He had written a post against the movie, which invited critical comments.
Meghwal made a point while commenting on the much publicised film, questioning whether atrocities had happened with Pandits only, and not with Dalits. He wrote that atrocities are happening with the poor daily and they are not safe, according to the report.
Meghwal also allegedly made some derogatory remarks against the gods which provoked the people.
He, however, has reportedly sought an apology on social media for his comments but some locals forcibly took him to a temple on March 21 and forced him to rub his nose on a platform in the temple and he did as he was told to, according to Circle Officer at Behror Police Station Rao Anand.
