Caste-Based Social Boycott Alleged in Madhya Pradesh Village Over Prasad Consumption
Posted on by Dalit Times
Madhya Pradesh-social ostracism- since six month-by Sarpanch-deep rooted caste based discrimination
Caste-Based Discrimination in Madhya Pradesh: Social Ostracism Sparks Controversy in a overwhelming episode. The incident reportedly took place on August 20, 2024, at the Talaiya Hanuman Temple in Atrar village. Jagat Ahirwar, a devoted worshipper, distributed a special prasad of Magaj Laddu to mark the fulfillment of his religious vow. The offering was shared with over 20 villagers, including members from Brahmin and other upper-caste communities.
. The village, which houses Scheduled Castes, Brahmins, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), has a history of factional rivalries led by the former and current sarpanchs. Tensions escalated when news spread that upper-caste families had accepted prasad from a Dalit individual. Allegedly, the village sarpanch issued a social boycott against all those who participated in consuming the offering. Since the announcement, these families have reportedly faced social exclusion, being barred from attending community events such as weddings and other social gatherings. The affected villagers continue to grapple with the fallout as authorities investigate the incident amidst conflicting narratives and allegations.
The tensions reportedly intensified when the former sarpanch, a Scheduled Caste leader, accused the current sarpanch, a Brahmin, and his faction of enforcing a social boycott. The issue arose after families consumed laddoos offered by a member of the Ahirwar caste, which belongs to the Scheduled Castes, as a religious offering. However, the current sarpanch’s faction denied the allegations, labeling them as baseless and politically motivated. They cited enduring personal and political animosities as the root of the accusations and lodged a counter-complaint with the Chhatarpur district police.
Superintendent of Police Agam Jain confirmed that both sides have filed complaints, and an investigation is underway. The affected families claim they have been excluded from community events, including weddings, as a consequence of consuming the prasad. Underlying this incident are long-standing disputes, including allegations of the former sarpanch squatting on Gram Sabha land. Additionally, an upper-caste man previously accused of murder has claimed he was falsely implicated due to factional tensions. A police official suggested that these allegations may be a reflection of “long-standing power struggles” in the village.
The Bundelkhand region, which includes Chhatarpur, has historically experienced deep-rooted caste-based divisions and clashes. This incident echoes previous caste-based discrimination cases in the region. Eight years ago, a nine-year-old Dalit boy from the neighboring Damoh district tragically drowned in a well after being denied access to a hand pump at his school due to his caste identity. Authorities, including the Chhatarpur district panchayat and local police, have assured a thorough investigation to address the issue and foster social harmony within the villageI
This incident mirrors a 2019 case from Bhatla village in Haryana’s Hisar district, where Dalit community members faced a long-drawn-out social boycott after a clash over drawing water from a hand-pump. The Supreme Court of India took cognizance of the matter, term it “grave” and emphasizing that issues related to social boycott and atrocities need quick police action. The court directed the Haryana government to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to address the situation and considered order an independent investigation into the accusation
In light of the Atrar village confrontation, authorities, including the Chhatarpur district panchayat and local police, have guaranteed a thorough investigation to address the issue and promote social harmony within the village. The parallels between this case and the 2019 Haryana incident underscore the persistent challenges of caste-based discrimination and the critical need for timely intervention to sustain the rights and dignity of marginalized communities.
