Dalit man, 19, brutally thrashed, urinated upon, and sexually assaulted in Rajasthan

A horrifying incident of caste-based violence has been reported from the Fathepur area in Sikar, Rajasthan, where a 19-year-old Dalit man was allegedly thrashed, urinated upon, and sexually assaulted by two unidentified individuals. The victim was reportedly watching a wedding procession on April 8 when the two men called him towards a nearby bus stand. According to police reports, the assault occurred without any prior provocation or warning, leaving the young man traumatized and injured.  

The victim's family filed a First Information Report (FIR) in the case on April 16, nearly a week after the brutal incident took place. The delay in reporting was attributed to the severe shock and trauma experienced by the teenager. In his complaint, the victim stated that the accused not only physically assaulted him, including inflicting blows on his private parts, but also forcibly stripped him and committed an act of unnatural sexual assault.

The victim recounted the horrific ordeal, alleging that his attackers were intoxicated. "They were drunk. They hit me with a bottle, urinated on me and used casteist slurs," he stated. Furthermore, he revealed the perpetrators had recorded a video of their atrocious acts and issued a grave threat, warning him against disclosing the incident to anyone, lest the video be shared on social media, adding another layer of fear and intimidation to his suffering.

Following the registration of the FIR, the police have invoked relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, recognizing the caste-based nature of the crime. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Arvind Kumar confirmed the registration of the case and stated that a medical examination of the victim has been conducted, his statement recorded, and a thorough investigation into the matter is currently underway to identify and apprehend the culprits.

The appalling incident has drawn strong condemnation from political leaders in Rajasthan. Tika Ram Jully, the Leader of Opposition in the state and a Dalit himself, decried the incident as an exposure of the "real law and order situation" prevailing in Rajasthan. He described the events as a "shameful reality," highlighting the kidnapping, beating, sodomy, urination upon, and threatening of the young Dalit man.  

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also expressed his dismay and concern over the incident, noting the profound trauma endured by the victim, which prevented him from filing a complaint for eight days. The collective outrage and demand for swift justice underscore the severity of this caste-based atrocity and the urgent need for effective measures to prevent such dehumanizing acts and ensure the safety and dignity of all citizens, particularly those belonging to marginalized communities.