A disturbing incident in Kakori town near Lucknow has ignited public outrage after a 65-year-old Dalit man was allegedly humiliated and assaulted inside a temple.
The elderly man reportedly lost control of his bladder due to illness while resting in the Sheetla Mata Temple, leading to a shocking confrontation. Police have arrested the accused following Rampal’s complaint.
A resident of Hata Hazrat Sahab, the victim, suffers from a chronic respiratory condition. On Monday, while at the temple, his illness caused him to urinate accidentally near the premises. Eyewitnesses report that Swamikant alias Pammu, a local resident, reacted violently upon noticing the incident.
According to accounts and the complaint filed, the accused allegedly hurled abuses at the old man, accused him of “defiling the temple," and forced him to lick urine in the name of “purifying the area." Witnesses further stated that the victim was made to wipe the floor before water was poured to “cleanse" the site.
The incident escalated as Rampal was also physically assaulted and verbally abused with casteist remarks in front of onlookers, leaving him humiliated and shaken.
Following the incident, the victim approached the Kakori police station and lodged a written complaint. ACP Kakori Shakeel Ahmed confirmed that the accused has been taken into custody.
“Based on the victim’s complaint, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Further investigation is underway," he said.
In a similar case, a 25-year-old Dalit man was allegedly abducted, assaulted, and forced to drink urine in Bhind district, Madhya Pradesh, prompting the arrest of three individuals, police said.
According to authorities, the main accused targeted the victim after he quit working as his driver. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, when the men abducted him from Gwalior and brought him to Bhind in a vehicle, where he was beaten and humiliated.
The victim is currently undergoing treatment in hospital, and the police are investigating the matter further, the Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Pathak confirmed.
Source: News18