Man, Pravesh Shukla, was arrested in Madhya Pradesh for urinating on a tribal boy in public.
The act is considered a violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a law aimed at safeguarding historically oppressed communities. Shukla’s arrest came after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with some politicians from the main opposition party, Congress, alleging that Shukla is associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also holds power in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP has denied these allegations, and the police have refrained from commenting on the matter until the facts have been thoroughly investigated.
Discrimination against tribespeople and lower castes in India remains a daily reality despite laws designed to protect them. The country’s caste hierarchy places these groups at the bottom, resulting in their marginalization and oppression.
In the video, Shukla can be seen urinating on the face of the seated boy while smoking a cigarette. Reports suggest that Shukla was intoxicated at the time.
The incident has garnered widespread condemnation, and demands for Shukla’s arrest have been voiced. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath tweeted that the incident has brought shame to the entire state and called for strict punishment for the perpetrator while urging an end to atrocities against tribal communities.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also expressed his outrage and announced the potential imposition of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Shukla.
Congress spokesperson Abbas Hafeez alleged that Shukla has ties to BJP lawmaker Kedarnath Shukla, presenting photos showing the two together. However, Pravesh Shukla’s father, Ramakant, claimed that his son is being targeted by the opposition due to his association with the BJP legislator. Kedarnath Shukla denied the allegations, stating that he is unfamiliar with the accused and that he interacts with numerous people during his constituency visits.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities in India and the need for stringent action against those who commit such acts of discrimination and violence.
Madhya Pradesh Government initiated a bulldozer action against a man identified as Pravesh Shukla after his video of urinating on a tribal labour went viral.