A 52-year-old Dalit woman, Jyothi Bharti, was dragged by her hair and humiliated during a raid in Nathnagar Pasi Tola, Bhagalpur district, Bihar.
The incident took place on May 18, when police officers, reportedly without any female personnel, stormed Jyothi’s house while she was caring for her sick mother. Witnesses say the officers hurled casteist slurs at the family.
When Jyothi protested, one officer allegedly shouted, “How dare people from a lower caste question us?”
An hour later, police returned, forcibly dragged Jyothi by her hair, tore her clothes, and took her to the police station, where she was detained overnight.
Jyothi’s sister Rajni, who lives in New Delhi, told reporters, “My sister is still in police custody. Police have also arrested 15-20 other people from the Dalit community.”
Villagers allege that the officers, belonging to the Bhumihar (Brahmin) caste, assaulted men, women, and children during the raid, with no clear justification.
The police have reportedly filed an attempted murder case against Jyothi.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.