Police in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested three men for allegedly assaulting a Dalit man, tonsuring his head, and hurling casteist slurs during a violent dispute over money. The incident, which occurred about a month ago, gained public attention only recently when a video of the assault went viral on social media platforms.
Victim Files Complaint After Viral Video Surfaces
The victim, identified as 40-year-old Pappu Diwakar, approached the Nawabganj police station on Sunday to lodge a formal complaint. He accused three individuals of attacking him physically and subjecting him to severe humiliation.
According to police reports, Diwakar had been residing at the house of Chandrasen Gangwar, a former village pradhan, for several months. The conflict arose from a financial transaction where Diwakar claimed Gangwar borrowed Rs 4.5 lakh from him to purchase a tractor.
Brutal Assault and Public Humiliation
Diwakar told authorities that when he demanded repayment of the loan, Gangwar, along with his son and an associate, launched a vicious assault. The attackers not only beat him but also forcibly shaved his head with scissors.
They proceeded to cut his moustache and eyebrows, then smeared mud across his face in what appeared to be a deliberate act of public degradation. Throughout this ordeal, the accused allegedly shouted caste-based insults at Diwakar in full view of other villagers.
Police Take Swift Action
Senior Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar of Nawabganj police station confirmed the arrests of Chandrasen Gangwar (62), his son Pappu (42), and their associate Godhan Lal (48). Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The charges include criminal breach of trust, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, criminal intimidation, and voluntarily causing hurt. Authorities have also invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused.
While the assault video circulated online for some time, police noted the actual incident occurred approximately one month before it gained widespread attention. The viral nature of the footage ultimately compelled law enforcement to investigate and make arrests in this disturbing case of alleged caste-based violence and financial dispute turned violent.
