Caste discrimination or molestation? Police probe conflicting claims at Lodheshwar Mahadev temple

A contentious incident at the revered Lodheshwar Mahadev temple in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district has led to conflicting complaints, with a 27-year-old Dalit man alleging he was beaten and subjected to casteist abuses when attempting to offer prayers, while the temple priest has accused him of molesting his daughter-in-law. Both parties have filed police complaints, and an investigation, including a review of CCTV footage, is currently underway.

Shailendra, the Dalit man, claimed in his complaint that Akhil Tiwari, Shubham Tiwari, and priest Aditya Tiwari prevented him from performing worship, verbally abusing him due to his caste. He further alleged that when he protested, they assaulted him with a vessel and a bell, causing injuries that led to his admission to the district hospital for treatment. This incident, if true, highlights persistent issues of caste discrimination despite legal prohibitions.

Conversely, temple priest Aditya Tiwari vehemently denied any caste-related discrimination, stating that "there is nothing related to casteism." He accused Shailendra of attempting to molest his daughter-in-law while she and his son were praying. Tiwari claimed that when his son intervened, Shailendra became violent. The priest highlighted that many of the temple's sevadars (volunteers) are from Dalit or backward castes and that the temple regularly welcomes lakhs of devotees from all backgrounds during significant festivals, without any prior allegations of such nature. Ramnagar police station's SHO Anil Kumar Pandey confirmed both complaints are being investigated and that action will be initiated based on evidence, including CCTV footage and statements from those involved.