Etawah Incident: Victim Claims Assault Was Caste-Based, Demands Justice

A recent incident in Etawah has sparked outrage after a man named Shyam, who was present during the event, alleged that he was assaulted due to his caste. Speaking to ABP Ganga, Shyam recounted the events of that evening, which were also captured on video and widely circulated on social media.

Details of the Incident

According to Shyam, the video accurately depicts what happened. He explained, “What you see in the video is exactly what happened. They asked us our names and told us that people of our caste are not allowed to enter the Brahmin village.” Shyam further alleged that the attack was fueled by caste-based provocation.

Describing the assault, he said, “They beat us up. I was slapped here,” pointing to his cheek. “I couldn’t see how many people hit me, but it was at least one or two.” When asked if anything else was said besides caste-related comments, Shyam confirmed that the attack was solely due to their caste.

Loss and Support

Shyam also mentioned that his drum (dholak) was taken away during the incident. However, he expressed gratitude towards political leader Akhilesh Yadav, who provided him with a new dholak. “I am happy now because Akhilesh Ji gave me a new drum,” he said.

Demands for Justice

Four people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident. When asked if he was satisfied with the police action, Shyam stated, “I want strict punishment for those responsible. They should be punished for what they did.”

The Etawah incident has highlighted ongoing issues of caste discrimination in rural Uttar Pradesh. Shyam and others affected by the violence are demanding justice and appropriate action against the perpetrators.