The accused have been identified as Saravanan, said to be a former BJP functionary, and his brother Logesh
NEW DELHI – Dalits continue to face widespread persecution and marginalisation, despite constitutional protections and laws aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination. They are often subjected to violence, social exclusion, and economic exploitation, with many being forced to live in segregated communities and perform jobs considered “polluting” or “unclean”.
Symptomatic of the continued harassment and persecution of the Dalit community, a 17-year-old scheduled caste boy was stripped, beaten and abused for meeting a girl of the different caste.
The teenager had gone to meet the girl at her relatives’ house in Secretariat Colony of Chennai in Tamil Nadu on Friday (September 12).
The accused have been identified as Saravanan, said to be a former BJP functionary, and his brother Logesh. According to police, the girl’s relatives confined the boy in a room and then called Saravanan, who and his brother allegedly assaulted the boy, stripped him, and hurled casteist abuses, media reports reaching here said on Sunday.
The boy, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste (Adi Dravidar) community, has been friends for years with the girl, who is from the Most Backward Class (Vanniyar) community. They reportedly continued to stay in touch through social media even after moving to different schools.
“The boy was beaten badly and humiliated. Saravanan used caste slurs against him,” a police officer said. The teenager is now receiving treatment at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital, the officer was quoted as saying.
Police have booked the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of obscene acts, voluntarily causing hurt, attempt to murder, and criminal intimidation.
The persistence of caste-based violence and atrocities against Dalits is a grim reminder of the deep-seated prejudices that still exist in Indian society. Incidents of Dalits being lynched, beaten, or otherwise attacked for alleged transgressions of caste norms are regularly reported, highlighting the need for more effective implementation of laws and policies aimed at protecting their rights and dignity. Furthermore, initiatives promoting social inclusion and awareness can help challenge and dismantle the entrenched caste-based prejudices that perpetuate such persecution.
