"a woman and a minor are seen being assaulted."
A video capturing the brutal assault of a Dalit woman and her teenage grandson inside a government railway police station in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni has gone viral.
The video ignited outrage on social media, drawing attention to the harrowing realities faced by marginalised communities in India.
The footage showed a female official repeatedly hitting the woman and her grandson with a stick.
Addressing the disturbing footage, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santosh Deharia acknowledged the severity of the incident.
He noted that no formal complaint had been lodged yet. However, an investigation would be initiated upon receiving a complaint from the affected parties.
In response to the public outcry, six railway officers, including a station in-charge, were suspended.
An official inquiry was set in motion to shed light on the distressing events captured in the video.
As details surrounding the incident unfolded, it was reported that the individuals in the video were relatives of a notorious criminal, Deepak Vanskar.
Deepak has a long history of criminal activity and multiple cases pending against him.
Deepak Vanskar, who had been under surveillance since 2017, had evaded authorities in the past, prompting a substantial reward for his apprehension.
Measures had been taken to expel him from the district in the interest of public safety.
In a statement, Madhya Pradesh Police revealed that the incident captured in the video dates back to October 2023.
It read: “A video has gone viral on various social media groups where prima facie it seems to be a case of GRP Katni in which a woman and a minor are seen being assaulted.
“Upon noticing the incident, the fact that came to light is the video shown is of October 2023.”
Following a swift response to the public outcry, the station in-charge was reassigned to GRP Police Line Jabalpur.
Watch the Footage. Warning – Distressing Images
#Horrific A shocking incident has emerged from Katni GRP police station in Madhya Pradesh, where a Dalit mother and her minor son were brutally beaten up by police officials inside the police station itself. Manuwadi media remains silent as usual…#DalitLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/sRoAyleKzo
— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) August 28, 2024
A senior officer was dispatched to Katni to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
In the wake of this appalling incident, political figures such as Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari condemned the authorities’ actions.
He emphasised the pervasive issue of Dalit oppression and the need for systemic change to combat such injustices.
Patwari said: “The big and small representatives of the police, who are above the law/constitution, have again done this to a Dalit family.
“Dalit oppression has become the biggest weapon!”
“The government is also leaving no stone unturned in oppressing the backward/tribals! This game of political malice must stop.”
Patwari’s scathing remarks underscored the urgent need to address issues of caste-based discrimination.
He stressed that those responsible for perpetuating violence against marginalised communities must be held accountable.
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