Two minors among 4 Dalits beaten up in Maharashtra village, 2 held

“The accused suspected that the four youths had committed the theft of some domesticated pigeons and goats. Probe suggests that they dragged the victims out of their homes and took them to a farm where their shirts were removed and hands and legs were tied before tying them upside down from a tree and thrashing them,” said the Ahmednagar police in a statement.

Local residents rescued the four and took them to a hospital in Shrirampur, where they are undergoing treatment, police said. Later in the day, purported videos of the assault were circulated on social media.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Prakash Ambedkar, president of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), said, “This is a clear cut case of caste atrocity… we demand that strict action be initiated against the accused.”

Tweeting a purported video of the incident, Ambedkar stated, “Another day in Maharashtra, another caste atrocity… where a Dalit youth is seen pleading his innocence with folded hands… It is ABSOLUTELY UNQUESTIONABLE that this incident is a caste atrocity”. “I spoke to one of the boys… He told me that the police said ‘the Mahar community should be treated like this only’,” Ambedkar said.

Superintendent of police, Ahmednagar, Rakesh Ola, told The Indian Express, “We have arrested two persons in the case and further investigation is on.”

Local organisations protested blocking the Shrirampur-Newasa Road, while several shops were closed.