A Dalit woman sarpanch and her husband were attacked with an axe on June 8 in Kharesh village of Rajasthan’s Didwana district while they were overseeing a road construction project under the MNREGA scheme.
The accused, Bhanwar Singh, allegedly believed that the road construction was encroaching on his land. According to Didwana SP Hanuman Prasad, “The issue was a land dispute. A road is being constructed near the accused Bhanwar Singh’s house. He presumed his land was being encroached.”
Singh reportedly hurled casteist slurs and chased the Dalit couple with an axe. A video of the incident shows several women trying to stop Singh and wrestle the axe from his hands.
“The Dalit sarpanch and her husband were not seriously hurt,” SP Prasad confirmed. “We have registered a case under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 126 (wrongful restrainment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”
Bhanwar Singh is currently absconding. Police say an investigation is underway.
The attack sparked outrage on social media, with users expressing disbelief over the deteriorating law and order in Rajasthan. Many criticised the government and police for failing to act.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.