In Gujarat's Banaskantha district, a group of individuals from an upper caste community allegedly assaulted a Dalit man due to their displeasure with his well-dressed appearance and the fact that he was wearing sunglasses, according to the police.
Seven individuals have been charged in relation to the incident. The occurrence transpired on Tuesday night (May 30) in Mota village, Palanpur Taluka, as reported by the police on Thursday.
According to the complaint filed by the victim, Jigar Shekhalia, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning when he was standing outside his residence.
One of the seven accused individuals approached him, subjecting him to verbal abuse and issuing death threats, alleging that he had recently displayed an increase in arrogance. This information was reported by the news agency PTI.
On that very night, six individuals from the community bearing the Rajput surname spotted the man standing near a village temple.
Carrying sticks, they approached him and inquired about his well-dressed appearance and sunglasses.
Subsequently, they brutally assaulted him and dragged him behind a dairy parlour, as stated by the police.
Upon witnessing the situation, the victim's mother swiftly came to his rescue but ended up being assaulted by the group as well.
Both the man and his mother were promptly taken to a hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment and recovering from the ordeal.
The police have registered an FIR at Gadh police station, citing various sections of the Indian Penal Code, which include charges of rioting, unlawful assembly, outraging the modesty of a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, and using abusive language.
Additionally, the accused individuals have been booked under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, as stated by a police official.
