A disturbing incident in Kota, Rajasthan, has sent shockwaves through the community and sparked widespread condemnation. Six individuals, including a father and son, have been arrested for allegedly subjecting a 12-year-old Dalit boy to a horrific ordeal. The boy was accused of stealing wire from a comedy event and was subsequently stripped naked, forced to dance, and the entire incident was recorded.
The incident came to light after a video of the horrifying act went viral online. It shows the young boy dancing to a song while four to five men sit around him, forcing him to dance with a smile plastered on his face. The Kota Police, after becoming aware of the video, swiftly located the victim and encouraged his family to file a formal complaint.
In his complaint, the victim’s father detailed the horrific events of that night. He stated that his son attended a comedy event held at a fair in GAD Circle on Friday night. Between 1 am and 4 am, a group of four to five men accosted his son, accusing him of stealing a wire. They then proceeded to strip him naked, beat him, and forced him to dance against his will while recording the entire incident.
The police, based on the complaint, filed an FIR against the six individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
The arrested individuals have been identified as Kshitij Gurjar (24) alias Bittu, Ashish Upadhyay alias Vikku (52), his son Yayati Upadhyay (24) alias Gungun, Gourav Soni (21), Sandeep Singh (30) alias Rahul Bannasha, and Sumit Kumar Sain (25).
During the initial investigation, the Kota police discovered that the accused suspected the minor boy of stealing a wire from their music system. All six accused have been produced in court and are currently facing charges related to the heinous crime they committed.
This incident underscores the alarming reality of caste-based violence and the vulnerability of marginalized communities, particularly children, in India. The arrests of the accused provide a glimmer of hope for justice, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater awareness and action against such brutal acts of cruelty and exploitation.
