The victims were accused of sending ‘obscene messages’ to a girl from an upper-caste community, which the attackers used as a pretext for the public assault
BENGALURU – A horrific incident of caste-based violence has come to light in Harogeri village, Karnataka’s Gadag district, where three minor Dalit boys were brutally assaulted by a mob of around 50-60 upper-caste Hindus. The boys were accused of sending “obscene messages” to a girl from an upper-caste community, which the attackers used as a pretext for the public assault.
The incident occurred on May 28, but videos emerged on Sunday (June 7), showing the boys being tied to a gram panchayat flagpole and beaten black and blue with sticks, slippers, and ropes.
Eight people have been arrested so far, with police efforts ongoing to trace the remaining accused. A case has been registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In addition, a separate case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against 30 individuals in connection with the incident, Naragund police inspector B. Manjunath said.
One of the boys attempted suicide by consuming poison, allegedly due to shame and trauma, and is currently in critical condition at KIMS Hospital in Hubballi.
Local sources allege that initial attempts were made to suppress the case, with pressure from community leaders to reach a compromise. The police registered the case and began arrests only after the disturbing videos went viral.
Activists are demanding immediate arrest of all accused, strict enforcement of SC/ST atrocity laws, and comprehensive rehabilitation for the victims and their families.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media and raised serious concerns about caste-based violence, law enforcement delays, and the persistence of untouchability in rural Karnataka. A parent of one of the boys poignantly said, “Untouchability is still very much alive in our village; this incident is just another example of the discrimination we face every day.”
