Dalit Woman Assaulted with Broom in Dhanbad for Refusing Unpaid Cleaning Work
A shocking incident of caste-based violence has emerged from Jharkhand, where a Dalit woman was allegedly assaulted with a broom and subjected to casteist abuse by a shopkeeper after she refused to clean the front of his shop without payment. The case, which occurred in Dhanbad, has sparked outrage and led to police action against the accused.
Details of the Assault and Viral Video
According to the complaint filed by Manju Devi Valmiki, a 46-year-old sanitation worker from Valmiki Colony in Jharia, the incident took place on Monday. She was engaged in her private sanitation work near the market when Sunil Kesari, a 55-year-old cloth shopkeeper, demanded that she clean the garbage in front of his shop for free. When she refused, he allegedly resorted to physical violence and casteist slurs, snatching her broom and using it to beat her.
A video of the assault quickly went viral on social media, purportedly showing Kesari attacking the complainant while hurling abusive language. This footage has drawn widespread condemnation and amplified calls for justice in the case.
Family and Community Response
Raja Kumar Valmiki, the son of the victim, provided further insight into the situation. He stated that his mother, a private sanitation worker, had cleaned Kesari's shop multiple times in the past without receiving any payment. However, on this occasion, her refusal led to a violent confrontation. "He was using casteist slurs against my mother, asking how she dared refuse to clean the shop," Raja Kumar recounted.
He also described the physical assault in detail, noting that Kesari grabbed his mother's hand and struck her hard on the head with the broom handle. Despite the presence of bystanders who recorded the incident, Raja Kumar lamented that no one came to his mother's aid during the attack, highlighting a troubling lack of immediate support from the community.
Police Action and Legal Measures
Jharia police inspector Bhim Lal Paswan confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Sunil Kesari based on the complaint from Devi and her community. "We have seen the viral video and started taking action," he said, assuring that the accused would be arrested soon. The police have invoked sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, underscoring the seriousness of the caste-based nature of the crime.
This legal step is crucial in addressing the systemic discrimination faced by Dalit communities and sends a strong message against such atrocities. The case continues to be under investigation as authorities work to ensure justice for the victim.
