MAHARASHTRA Even with a severely long-lasting pandemic knocking at our doors, the world doesn’t seem to get over its problems of racism, casteism, and religious discrimination. After a horrid display of racism in the USA, India very recently housed another murder in the name of casteism.
Night of 7th June 2020 saw the murder of a 20-year-old Dalit boy on the grounds of allegedly having a relationship with a girl of “higher caste”. The apparently ‘higher’ caste judged the relationship to be a crime and cold-heartedly lynched the boy on the road who later succumbed to his injuries.
The ghastly incident took place at Pimple Saudagar area, which is in the suburbs of Pune district. The Dalit boy has been identified as Viraj Vilas Jagtap. The boy’s uncle filed the FIR or First Information Report regarding his death which is synonymous with murder. Four people who are accused of the incident have been MAHARASHTRA taken into custody, including the girl’s father and two minors. They have been booked under the claims of murder and provisions in favor of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act).
According to the FIR, Viraj Vilas Jagtap, who was on a bike, was chased by 6 people in a tempo. On being hit by it, he fell down. Injuries on him were from being hit by an iron rod and pelted with stones in the middle of the road. After this, he was held back by four accused while the girl’s father, MAHARASHTRA who was behind the entire plan hurled casteist abuses at him and spit on him for having ‘the audacity’ to have a relationship with someone of higher class. After he was badly injured, he was left by the side of the road from where he was taken to the hospital. He gave up while treatment and embraced untimely death.
Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Sandeep Bishnoi, verified the ghastly incident and certified the arrest of the four accused.
The hateful casteism is present in every corner of India and it can be proved by other incidents.
In Kerala, a young Dalit boy of 20 years was grievously injured with a sword. The injury was inflicted by the brother of the victim’s lover who didn’t approve of the relationship.
Uttar Pradesh too was a spectator to casteism. In Amroha, UP, a 17-year-old teenage Dalit boy was shot to death in his sleep, at his own house over casteism. This young boy had a quarrel with a higher caste boy regarding going to the temple who took out his hatred and anger on this innocent soul. Generation old casteism has seeped like poison into the very labyrinth of society.
Day after day, little by little humanity is getting eroded and nothing, not even a pandemic seems to evoke empathy in humans.
Mohona Bhattacharya
Banaras Hindu University
2nd Year, English Hons.
Varanasi, UP.
Mohona is an avid reader and an equality seeker. She takes a keen interest in painting and finds solace among books, coffee, nature, and dogs.
