Engineer and Two Associates Face FIR for Alleged Assault and Casteist Abuse of Labourer at Junagadh Municipal Office
A disturbing incident of alleged physical assault and caste-based verbal abuse has been reported from the Junagadh Municipal Corporation office, leading to police action against an engineer and two others. The victim, a 54-year-old labourer, was reportedly attacked while following up on an application, sparking outrage and legal proceedings.
Victim Hospitalized with Injuries After Confrontation at Civic Office
Karshan Solanki, a resident of Vrundavan Nagar Society on Madhuram Bypass Road in Rajkot, has been admitted to Junagadh Civil Hospital with injuries sustained during the alleged assault. The incident occurred on Monday, but based on Solanki's statement recorded at the hospital, Junagadh B Division police registered an FIR late on Wednesday night.
The FIR names the engineer and his two unidentified associates as accused. According to the complaint, Solanki visited the civic body's construction department around 11 am on Monday to follow up on an application. Finding the office largely unstaffed, he began recording a video on his phone and questioned the absence of workers.
Alleged Assault and Casteist Slurs During Office Visit
Police stated that this action led to a confrontation with a person already present in the office. Subsequently, the engineer and another man arrived at the scene. The FIR alleges that the trio then verbally abused Solanki for repeatedly visiting the office and escalated the situation by physically assaulting him.
The complaint details that the accused kicked and punched Solanki, causing him injuries. During the assault, they allegedly subjected him to casteist slurs, adding a layer of discrimination to the violent act. The assault only stopped when Solanki's friend, Lokesh, arrived and intervened, preventing further harm.
Legal Action and Emergency Response Initiated
After the incident, Solanki called the 112 emergency services and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. His condition prompted a formal police complaint, leading to the registration of the FIR. The police have booked the accused under multiple legal provisions to address both the physical violence and the caste-based abuse.
The charges include Sections 115(2), 296(b), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This legal framework aims to ensure justice for the victim and deter such incidents in the future.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the matter, with efforts underway to identify the two unnamed associates involved in the alleged assault. The case highlights ongoing concerns about workplace violence and caste discrimination in public offices.
