A shocking viral video shows the three being brutally thrashed. The mob, reportedly from the Thakur community, stripped them naked and beat them brutally with sticks and rods in the middle of the road
NEW DELHI – In a disturbing incident renewing the focus on the ongoing caste-based discrimination in the country, three Dalit youth were reportedly assaulted by members of the Thakur caste after they chanted “Jai Bhim,” a slogan associated with Babasaheb Ambedkar, a revered Dalit icon and architect of the Indian Constitution
A shocking viral video shows the three youths being brutally thrashed. The upper caste men stripped the youths naked and thrashed them brutally with sticks and rods in front of a crowd in the middle of the road.
The incident reportedly occurred in Lodha Police Station area in the Uttar Pradesh city of Aligarh. Media reports reaching here on Tuesday said the three sustained serious injuries in the beating by the mob on the road leading to Chikavati Highway.
They were left battered and barely conscious before passersby intervened and helped them receive medical attention. Their condition is reported to be serious.
Media reports said the altercation began when the Dalit youths chanted “Jai Bhim,” a slogan symbolising respect and pride for Ambedkar. The slogan allegedly triggered anger among men from the Thakur caste. Soon after, nearly a dozen individuals surrounded the Dalit youths, forcibly stripped them and beat them mercilessly with sticks and rods on the roadside.
In #UttarPradesh's #Aligarh, three #Dalit men were brutally assaulted by members of the Thakur caste for chanting "Jai Bhim." They were stripped and beaten with sticks in public. pic.twitter.com/DdDoNsjdW3
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) April 28, 2025
The victims reportedly raised the slogan during a community gathering. The act provoked members of the dominant Thakur caste, who retaliated with a violent physical assault.
However, the police have refuted these claims and issued a clarification in connection with the matter.
Reports said the police claimed that after initial investigations, it was found that the youths were harassing school girls in the area and there was no caste-related issue. The police have reportedly registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and initiated legal actions against the accused.
“There was a dispute between two parties over some issue. Preventive action has been taken and the area officer has been directed to thoroughly investigate all aspects and take necessary action,” reports cited the police as saying.
However, activists and community members have expressed concerns about the effectiveness and promptness of the police response.
Human rights organisations have called for immediate and impartial action, demanding that the perpetrators be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. They also stressed the importance of safeguarding the constitutional rights of Dalits, particularly their freedom of expression and identity.
The slogan “Jai Bhim” is a symbol of empowerment and resistance among Dalits, used to honour Dr Ambedkar’s legacy. Incidents like this one underscore the persistent challenges faced by marginalised communities in asserting their identity and dignity in a society still grappling with entrenched caste hierarchies.
Social and political leaders have condemned the attack, with many taking to social media to express solidarity with the victims and demand justice.
