CASTE CRUELTY IN ODISHA: DALIT MEN HUMILIATED

Two Dalit men were brutally harassed, forced to crawl, drink dirty water, and eat grass on suspicion of cattle smuggling. This incident occurred on Sunday June 22, morning in Odisha's Ganjam district. 

Two men, Bulu Nayak (52) and Babul Nayak (43), were transporting cattle for a family marriage when

locals intercepted them, accusing them of illegal activity. The men were assaulted, robbed of their phones and cash, and demanded Rs 30,000 to release the animals. The attackers tied and brutally assaulted them. They were taken to a salon where their heads were partially shaved, then forced to crawl 2 km to Jahada village, where they were allegedly made to eat grass and drink dirty water. 

On Tuesday, the Dalit Mahasabha staged a protest near the Revenue Divisional Commissioner's office in the district, demanding strong action against the accused. A memorandum was also submitted to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

It's shocking that such incidents occur in today's era, where social media has increased awareness and supposedly reduced caste-based discrimination. The Odisha Congress has indeed formed a five-member fact-finding team, led by Rama Chandra Kadam, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Odisha Assembly. However, this team was initially constituted to investigate rising crimes against women in the state, particularly following a brutal gang rape incident on June 15 in Gopalpur. The team, which includes Deepa Dasmunshi as the convenor, has been visiting various districts, speaking to victims, families, and officials.

Interestingly, this same team will now also be looking into the recent heinous incident in Ganjam district where two Dalit men were tonsured, forced to eat grass, and made to drink wastewater on suspicion of cattle smuggling. Rama Chandra Kadam plans to visit the victims to gather more information about the atrocity.

The Congress fact-finding team has been critical of the Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accusing them of failing to provide security to women and being apathetic to their sufferings. They plan to raise these issues in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and even meet President Draupadi Murmu to bring national attention to the matter.

By- 
Amalendu k 
Student,
Journalism and Mass Communication 
Amity University Mumbai

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