2 Dalits tonsured, paraded on charges of stealing cows

Ballia (Uttar Pradesh): Two Dalits were tonsured and paraded in Rasra police station area here, allegedly by Hindu Yuva Vahini activists, on charges of stealing cows, the police said.

The two men were then arrested after an FIR was filed on a complaint by one Pravin Srivastava, and charged under sections 379 and 411 (punishment for theft) of IPC.

One of the two men filed a counter police complaint saying the incident took place on Monday when some Hindu Yuva Vahini activists stopped them with two cows.

In the complaint, Uma Ram alleged that his and Sonu’s heads were shaved by the activists. They were then paraded around Rasra town with tyres around their necks and placards with the taunt, “hum gai chor hain” (we are cow thieves).

On Ram’s complaint, an FIR was lodged against one named and 15 unknown persons under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. SP Anil Kumar said Deputy SP Avdhesh Chaudhary has been asked to investigate the matter.