Naga Babas abused a Dalit man in Gairatganj, MP, police filed FIR
Dalit society and social organizations have demanded in one voice that instead of taking this matter lightly, sections of SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act should be immediately added against the accused and they should be arrested.
Published on: 07 Apr 2025, 10:47 am
Bhopal. A shocking incident has come to light in Kempa village of Gairatganj tehsil of Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, where a group of Naga Babas openly abused a Dalit citizen and former minister of Madhya Pradesh government using caste-specific abusive language. After this, the victim complained to the police and then a case was registered.
The victim, Gorelal Ahirwar, is a shoe polisher by profession and runs a small roadside shop to support his family. On April 5, some Naga Babas came to his shop and abused him using caste-related language and used foul language.
Speaking to The Muknayak , Gorelal said, “In the evening, some Naga Sadhus came in their Bolero. When I asked their driver to move the vehicle away from the front of the shop, they became furious and started abusing me by using foul language against my caste. When I protested, they threatened me that they would not spare me.”
Dalit former minister was also abused
The Naga Babas also abused Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary, a former minister in the state government and currently an MLA from Sanchi, using caste-specific slurs. Dr. Choudhary himself comes from the Dalit community. According to eyewitnesses, the Naga Babas targeted him by calling him a “Dalit leader” and abused him.
Police avoided action, sections of SC/ST Act were not added in the FIR
When the victim reached Gairatganj police station, he was made to sit there for hours and there was reluctance in registering the report. After many hours of struggle, an FIR was registered on April 6, but only sections of abuse and threat were included in it. While SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act, which is mandatory in such cases, was deliberately not added.
What does the law say?
According to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, abusing or insulting any Dalit person on the basis of his or her caste is a non-bailable offence attracting stringent punishment.
Police under pressure?
Locals and social activists allege that this procrastination happened because Union Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was scheduled to visit Gairatganj on April 6. The administration did not want any controversy to affect his program.
Azad Samaj Party leader Sunil Astey, while talking to The Muknayak, said that incidents of atrocities on Dalits are increasing continuously in Madhya Pradesh, but the government and administration are turning a blind eye. Referring to the Raisen incident, he raised the question that when Dalits were abused by sadhus on caste lines, why did the police not take strict action against the accused till now. Sunil Astey further said, “Until the accused are sent to jail, it will be believed that the police is working under the pressure of Manuvadi forces. We are going to Raisen.”
Outrage in Dalit society
There is an atmosphere of anger in the area after the incident. Social organizations and leaders of the Dalit community have questioned the role of the police and have demanded that sections of the SC/ST Act be added against the culprits and their immediate arrest be made.
Dalit society and social organizations have demanded in one voice that instead of taking this matter lightly, sections of SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act should be immediately added against the accused and they should be arrested. Also, departmental action should be taken against the policemen who were negligent in providing security to the victim Gorelal Ahirwar and in registering the complaint in the police station. They say that this is not just an insult of one person but of the entire Dalit community and it will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
