Another Dalit-beating video goes viral

On the very day, Gujarat celebrated its 58th Foundation Day and just a couple of days after the Dalit persons publically flogged at Una converted to Buddhism in protest, one more incident of the public flogging of a Dalit person has come to light from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Like the Una incident, where a video of four youths being flogged publically went viral, a video clip showing a Dalit individual being beaten with sticks by three persons in the Devbhoomi Dwaraka district has gone viral.

The incident is said to have happened in the Surajkaradi area of Mithapur in Devbhoomi Dwarka.

Devshibhai Roshiyais seen lying on the ground and is being flogged with sticks by three persons before being stopped by an elderly person.

"The incident took place on April 28 around 9.30-10.00 am. The local crime branch is on the look-out for the three accused seen in the video and the entire investigation is being carried out by deputy superintendent of police (SC/ST division) R K Patel," Rohan Anand, SP, Devbhoomi Dwarka, said.

He said the victim and the accused, referred to as the Pathan family, are neighbours and that there have been many altercations in the past.

"In December 2017, complaints were registered from both the sides. In this case, Devashibhai had got an FIR registered against 17 named and 5 unnamed members of the Pathan family on April 26," Anand said.

As per the FIR, Devashibhai said the accused Sikandar Pir Khan Pathan, Salman Pir Khan Pathan and several others entered his house around 10 pm and verbally abused. He has said the Pathan family members snatched money from them and even tried to beat them.

"On receiving the complaint, we rushed to the spot but the accused were not there. Apparently, when they got to know of the complaint, Sikandar, Salman and one unidentified person rushed to Devshibhai's place and began beating him in front of his house," Anand said.

The police are on the lookout for the accused and are said to have provided security cover for Devashibhai. He is said to be undergoing treatment in a local hospital.