Lucknow: In a distressing incident in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a 16-year-old Dalit boy was reportedly assaulted by a group of students who forced him to chant the religious slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the assault involved several students who share a Hindutva ideology, compelling the teenager to recite the slogan in an act of intimidation. The confrontation reportedly arose after the attackers saw images of BR Ambedkar in the victim’s Instagram status, which escalated to physical and verbal abuse.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ghatampur), Ranjeet Kumar, has confirmed the details of the incident, stating that the boy was subjected to both physical assault and coerced into chanting. Furthermore, the assailants recorded the act and disseminated it on social media platforms. Authorities have launched an investigation into the assault, although no arrests have been reported at this stage.