Gujarat: A Dalit youth was going to buy Shrikhand, the casteist people did not like his style and so they beat him up and chopped off his hair!

The Gondal police have registered a case under sections 140(2), 324(2), 352, 54 (assault, kidnapping, damage to property) of the Indian Penal Code (BNSS), 2023 and sections 3(1)(e)(r)(s), 3(2)(5) (caste insult and violence) of the SC/ST Act.

Published on: 18 Jun 2025, 12:58 pm

Rajkot – Casteism is deeply rooted in society. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in cases of caste violence, where Dalits and members of backward classes not only face social discrimination but also physical violence and humiliating behaviour. In a shocking incident, a Dalit youth was beaten up using caste-specific slurs and his hair was forcibly cut off. The victim Kunalbhai Meghjibhai, a resident of Sadakpipliya village, has lodged a complaint with the Gondal police.

Talking to The Muknayak , 24-year-old Kunalbhai said that he has been living on rent with his parents and sister in Nareshbhai Jamod’s house in Sadakpipaliya for five years. Kunal works as a laborer in Kesari Nandan factory near Bharudi Pariya and has studied up to class 9.

Kunal told about the incident, “On the night of June 11, around 8:30 pm, I had left home on my motorcycle to get Shrikhand. Then the accused Satishbhai Vekariya and Markand Vyas came in front of me on their motorcycle and said,  “Jadiara (caste slur), where are you going?”  and abused me. I stopped my motorcycle and asked them not to abuse me. To this, they said,  “This is not your father’s village,”  and started beating me with sticks. I ran away from there and reached Bajrang Dairy lane, but both of them came there on their motorcycle and then beat me with a stick. They pushed me against the wall and hit me and then took me to Bapa Sitaram temple on their motorcycle.”

Kunal further said, “In the temple, they beat me again with a stick. Prayagbhai Prafulbhai Chauhan was also present there. Satish and Markand asked Prayag to bring scissors. Prayag brought scissors, with which Satish and Markand cut my hair. While cutting my hair, they were saying,  “This Jadiara has long hair, he is fond of keeping long hair!”  This was my first meeting with these two. They also broke the headrest and indicator of my motorcycle.

The matter did not end here, after this Kunal returned home and told his neighbors about the incident. About an hour later Satish again came to his house on a motorcycle and started abusing Kunal and his mother Manisha Ben. The landlord Nareshbhai pacified him and sent him away. Kunal said that he had suffered physical injuries, so he called 108 ambulance. Both mother and son were taken to Rajkot Government Hospital, where doctors confirmed serious injuries.

Based on Kunal’s complaint, Gondal police have registered an FIR against the three accused. Sections 140(2), 324(2), 352, 54 (assault, kidnapping, property damage) of the Indian Penal Code (BNSS) 2023 and sections 3(1)(e)(r)(s), 3(2)(5) (caste insult and violence) of the SC/ST Act have been imposed in the case.