The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday arrested four upper-caste farmers in Badaun for allegedly assaulting a Dalit man and forcing him to drink his urine after he refused to harvest their wheat crop, The Hindu reported.
Sitaram Valmiki’s wife had called the police to complain about the assault, but said that officials did not respond to her call immediately, The Hindu reported. Officials have suspended the Hazratpur Station House officer for negligence.
The police identified the accused as Vijay Singh, Vikram Singh, Sompal Singh and Pinku Singh. “They pulled out my moustache and even made me drink urine as shoes and slippers came raining down on me,” alleged Valmiki.
Bareilly Range Inspector General Dhruv Kant Thakur visited Valmiki at him home on Monday, and directed Badaun Senior Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar to take action in the case.
Several atrocities and acts of discrimination against Dalits and members of lower caste have been reported across the country. Critics have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of doing little to deter such crimes.
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