BHOPAL: A horrific episode of a Dalit youth allegedly tied to a pole at a petrol pump and mercilessly flogged with a hunter (whip) by his employer merely for staying away from duty sans permission has been reported from Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.
Not only was the young petrol pump employee Ajay Ahirwar tied to a pole of the petrol pump machine and flogged mercilessly by the petrol pump owner Chintu Sahu and Dipak Sahu, but the accused also shot the video of the entire cruelty with their cell-phone. The ghastly incident which happened on June 23 night, however, was reported by the alleged victim of the torture to Hoshangabt police station on July 2, as he had run away to his maternal uncle's village out of fear of being killed by the accused if he reported the matter to police.
"I was hurt in a road accident, owing to which I couldn't go to work at the petrol pump without informing the employer. Five to six days later, both Chintu and Dipak Sahu arrived at my house and forcibly took me to the petrol pump. Once at the petrol pump, I was tied to a pole and flogged for remaining absent for five to six days sans prior permission," Ahirwar narrated the savage episode to local journalists on Friday morning. "Not only was I flogged with a hunter (whip), but both Chintu and Dipak Sahu also threatened to kill me if I reported the matter to police. Fearing for my life, I fled to my maternal uncle's house in Pawarkhedi, but returned and reported the matter to police at my uncle's insistence," alleged Ahirwar.
According to additional SP (ASP) of Hoshangabad district Rakesh Khaka, acting on Ahirwar's complaint, a case was lodged at Hoshangabad Dehat police station under Sections 342, 294, 323 and 506 of IPC, besides under provisions of The Scheduled Caste and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Both the accused have been arrested and the hunter (whip) allegedly used in the crime too has been seized by the police.