New Delhi: In an alarming incident that highlights the ongoing caste tensions in Uttar Pradesh, three Dalit children were attacked for playing outside a temple in Daudapur village, Mainpuri district. The enraged local feudal lords not only held the children hostage but also physically assaulted them. When family members, including elderly individuals and women, intervened, they too were verbally abused with casteist slurs.Incident sparks outrage in MainpuriThe shocking incident took place in the jurisdiction of the Bewar police station, where the temple became a flashpoint for caste-based discrimination. Despite an FIR being filed on August 26, no arrests have been made, raising serious concerns about the local law enforcements willingness to take action. The caste systems entrenched influence in the region is being blamed for the delay.Bhim Army chief and MP from Nagina, Chandrashekhar Azad sharing the incident wrote on X, In the so-called Ram Rajya of Uttar Pradesh, the temple of the feudal lords was desecrated because three Dalit children were playing outside the temple. Angered by this, two religious contractors not only held the three children hostage and beat them, but also abused the elderly and women of the house using caste-specific language.उत्तर प्रदेश के तथाकथित रामराज्य में 3 दलित बच्चों को मंदिर के बाहर खेलने से सामंतियों का मंदिर अपवित्र हो गया। इससे गुस्साए धर्म के ठेकेदार, दो लोगों ने न सिर्फ तीनों बच्चों को बंधक बनाकर पीटा बल्कि घर के बुजुर्ग यहां तक कि महिलाओं को भी जाति सूचक गालियां दीं।घटना मैनपुरी… pic.twitter.com/8deOnefLI1— Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) September 16, 2024Family in fear as local pressure mountsVictim Sunny Pratap Jatav expressed his familys deep fear due to the lack of arrests. The situation has been worsened by local BJP representatives and individuals from the ruling party, who are allegedly pressuring the family to settle the matter through a compromise. This reluctance to act against the upper-caste individuals involved has left the Dalit family feeling isolated and vulnerable.Allegations of casteism The absence of police action has led to accusations of caste bias within the system. The local Azad Samaj Party has warned that if the accused are not arrested soon, their members will stage protests across the region. The party claims that the delay in arresting those responsible reflects a broader issue of casteism within the administration.Demands for justice growAs tensions rise, the community and activists are calling for immediate justice and the arrest of the accused. The incident serves as a stark reminder that caste-based discrimination and violence remain prevalent in certain parts of India, even as the country moves forward with its development goals.
