Dalit teenager beaten up for visiting temple in Rajasthan: “How dare you…!
Due to the lack of arrest, anger in the entire Dalit community, the demand for arrest has increased.
Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:50 am
Chittorgarh – In Ghosunda village of Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan, a 15-year-old Scheduled Caste (Regar community) student, Chetan Prakash Regar, was assaulted and threatened on caste-based grounds within the Laxmi Narayan Temple complex. Dalit organizations have strongly condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. Police filed an FIR following the incident, but no arrests have been made, creating an atmosphere of fear within the victim’s family and society.
The victim, Chetan Prakash Regar, son of Mangilal Regar, stated in his First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Chandaria police station that on February 7th, at around 8 a.m., he had gone to the Laxmi Narayan Temple to offer prayers. While returning, Shubham Sukhwal, a man from an alleged upper caste, stopped him and used caste-related slurs. According to the report, Shubham Sukhwal said, “You are a Chamar, how dare you come to our temple?” Chetan replied that anyone can visit the temple. Enraged, Shubham hurled caste-related slurs at him, calling him “Chamar,” “Gagare,” and threatening, “If you come to our temple from today onwards, I will kill you.”
Representatives of the Dr. Ambedkar Welfare Society, SC ST Mahasabha, Chittorgarh, and the Dr. Ambedkar Citizens Association, Chittorgarh, met with the District Collector and submitted a memorandum to the State Human Rights Commission, condemning the assault on Chetan Prakash Regar.
Shubham Sukhwal then began assaulting Chetan. The report states that he slapped him, kicked and punched him, and knocked him down. His companion, Pawan, also attacked and attempted to kill him. Chetan managed to escape. As they fled, the accused shouted, “Next time, Chamar, your lower caste people, don’t go to our temple, or we’ll kill you.” The temple priest, Vinod, also hurled caste-based abuses and threatened Chetan.
The police registered the case under sections 126(2), 115(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 3(1)(r)(s), 3(2)(5) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation is headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Headquarters, Chittorgarh, Brijesh Singh.
Representatives of Dr. Ambedkar Welfare Society and SC ST Mahasabha, Chittorgarh, Dr. Ambedkar Citizen Association Chittorgarh met the District Collector and submitted a memorandum to the State Human Rights Commission condemning the assault on Chetan Prakash Regar.
Rameshwar Bairwa, convener of the SC/ST Mahasabha, stated that Shubham Sukhwal and his associates physically assaulted Chetan Prakash Regar in the temple premises. The entire Dalit community condemns this assault. Anger is rife among the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in Chittorgarh due to the failure to arrest the miscreants who assaulted the child.
Nirmal Kumar Desai, vice president of the Dr. Ambedkar Welfare Society, Chittorgarh, stated that the family is terrified by the administration’s failure to arrest the accused. The family is suffering immense mental anguish. There is a possibility of something untoward happening to them.
On this occasion, many social workers including District President of Dr. Ambedkar Citizen Association Babulal Jinwal, Mangilal Solanki, BL Meena, Ratanlal Khatik, Ambalal Sirsia, Mausam Ali, Ratanlal Salvi, Chaman Meena etc. were present.
Dalit organizations have demanded immediate, strict action against Shubham Sukhwal, his companion Pawan, and priest Vinod, so that fear of the law prevails in society and such incidents are prevented in the future. They also demanded protection for the victim’s family and an impartial investigation of the case.
