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MP: Dalit girl stopped from going to school; family beaten up

Shajapur police registers cross FIRs as accused, too, claim assault

dalit_girl Representative image | Shutterstock

A clash between two families erupted in a village in Madhya Pradesh after a minor dalit girl was stopped by a group of ‘upper caste’ persons from going to school, since other girls of the village did not attend school.

According to sources, the clash erupted in Bawaliakhedi village on outskirts of Shajapur town, after the brother of the 16-year-old girl intervened and was beaten up by the three men who had accosted her on Saturday. Later, the accused along with other family members, reached the girl's house and attacked her family, resulting in injuries to members of both sides, police said.

The girl told the local media that she was returning from school when she was accosted by Makhan, Kundan and Dharmendra Singh. “They snatched my school bag and asked me why I go to school while other girls of the village don’t. They objected to my schooling because girls of their family don’t go to school. They beat up my brother when he objected to their comment and later beat up my other family members, too,” she said.

The Kotwali police in Shajapur registered an FIR against seven, including Kundan Rajput, Dharmendra Singh, Sajan Singh, Man Singh, Makhan Singh, Ishwar Singh and Tufan Singh Rajput on the complaint of the girl under sections of IPC and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

However, the accused also got a cross FIR registered against the girl's family members, accusing them of assault.

Shajapur Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Deepa Dodwe told THE WEEK that there was a history of enmity between the two families over the use of a well between their houses. “The comment on the girl regarding her schooling led to a fresh altercation and clash on Saturday and cross FIRs have been filed. Members of both sides have been injured. We have sought medical reports to know the extent of injuries, based on which the sections of FIRs might be increased and arrests will be made as required. The current sections of the FIRs do not necessitate immediate arrests,” the officer said.

Dodwe said that the FIRs were registered immediately after the incident on Saturday. However, the matter has come to light after videos of the incident and the statement of the girl went viral on social media.

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