BHOPAL: In a shocking incident, a scheduled caste (SC) man in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district has alleged that the upper caste sarpanch of the village along with aides, subjected him to utmost cruelty for opposing illegal sand mining.
The complainant Rajkumar Chowdhary alleged that he was not only assaulted by the sarpanch Ramanuj Pandey and aides, but the sarpanch’s son Pawan Pandey even urinated on him. The alleged incident happened in Matwara village of Katni district on October 13.
“The village’s sarpanch, Ramanuj Pandey, is involved in illegal sand mining in the village. When I opposed it, the sarpanch and aides, including a key associate, son and nephew, assaulted me, and the sarpanch’s son Pawan Pandey even urinated on my face. When my mother protested the cruelty which was being unleashed on me, they caught and dragged her by the hair and assaulted her,” the complainant Rajkumar Chowdhary alleged.
“The unimaginable insult which has happened with me just for opposing illegal mining, has pushed me to the verge of contemplating committing suicide, but I’ve to live for my kids,” he said.
Instead of going to the local police station, the complainant went to the Katni district police superintendent's office and reported the matter immediately after getting treatment at the hospital for the alleged assault injuries.
While confirming about having received a complaint from Chowdhary, the Katni district’s additional SP (ASP) Santosh Dehriya said the police have been directed to probe the matter and act accordingly.
According to latest reports, a case has been registered against the accused under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
