Dalit family in MP’s Sehore cut off from all relations, Congress leader’s brother accused of threatening to kill them, forcing them to leave the village!
Shahganj SDM Dinesh Kumar Tomar told The Mooknayak that the administration has received a complaint of social boycott of the Vanshkar family. At present, no FIR has been registered in this case, but considering the seriousness of the complaint, an investigation is being conducted.
Published on: 03 Mar 2025, 3:36 pm
Bhopal. A case of stopping the supply of water and hookah to the families of scheduled castes has come to light in Baktara village (Tehsil Shahganj, Vidhan Sabha Budhni) of Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. At the behest of a Congress leader and brother of a former minister, influential people of the village called a panchayat and issued an order to boycott the family. Also, shopkeepers were warned that if they sell ration, water or other goods to these families, they will have to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Threat given on building a house
Baktara resident Radheshyam Bansakar told The Mooknayak that on 24 February 2025 at 7:30 pm, his neighbour Roopsingh Chauhan came to his house and made casteist remarks and threatened him not to build a house in front of his house. When Radheshyam protested, Roopsingh started abusing and beating him. After this, Roopsingh’s sons Sonu Chauhan and Prabhat Chauhan and his brother Mohan Chauhan also came there and attacked him with sticks.
In this incident, Radheshyam Bansakar, his son Deenbandhu, grandson Sagar, sister-in-law Sukhvati Bai, wife Bholi Bai, nephew Durgesh, elder brother Prem Singh and son Deepesh were injured. All of them suffered serious injuries. The victims say that while leaving, the accused threatened that if they build a house in front of their house, they would be killed. After this, the victims lodged a complaint in Shahganj police station.
The village panchayat issued a boycott order
According to the victims, on 28 February 2025, the people of Kirar community called a caste panchayat in the village, in which it was decided that the people of Bansakar community should be stopped from having hookah-paani. In the panchayat, shopkeepers were instructed not to give any goods to the people of Scheduled Caste and if anyone does so, then a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed on him.
After this decision, the people of Bansakar community in Baktara village stopped getting ration and water. They were also prohibited from working as laborers in the fields. Due to constant threats, the affected families have been forced to leave the village and take shelter in other places.
A person from the village’s Vanskar community, on the condition of anonymity, said that on the orders of the brother of a former minister of the Congress party, who has considerable influence in this area, the village panchayat has stopped providing hookah-paani to the victim’s family. After this decision, the victim’s family is facing social boycott, due to which their daily life has become extremely difficult. Neither the shopkeepers of the village are giving them goods nor other villagers are visiting their house.
Mukesh Vanshal, state president of Vanskar Samaj, while talking to The Mooknayak, alleged that Devkumar Patel, brother of a former minister, and others have socially boycotted the victim’s family due to caste frustration. He said that such incidents weaken the social fabric and reflect the injustice being done to the people of Vanskar Samaj.
Mukesh Vanshal said that he has met the collector and other administrative officials and demanded strict action against the accused. He expected the administration to take legal action against the culprits as soon as possible, so that such incidents can be prevented in future.
Demand for justice from the administration, warning of protest
The victim families have submitted a memorandum to the Sehore Collector and pleaded for justice and demanded strict action against the culprits. They say that if they do not get justice, the people of the Bansakar community will be forced to stage a sit-in protest at the district headquarters Sehore.
Administration started investigation
Shahganj SDM Dinesh Kumar Tomar told The Mooknayak that the administration has received a complaint of social boycott of the Vanshkar family. At present, no FIR has been registered in this case, but considering the seriousness of the complaint, an investigation is being conducted.
The SDM said that appropriate legal action will be taken after the investigation is completed. The administration will ensure that no family faces any incidents of discrimination or social boycott.
