New Delhi, January 14, 2023 (PPI-OT):A Dalit man was assaulted by upper caste Hindus with burning sticks for entering a temple to offer prayers in Uttarkashi district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The incident took place on January 9 when 22-year-old Ayush, visited the temple in the Mori area of the district, Indian media reported quoting police officials. The victim in a complaint to the police said that some upper caste Hindus tied him up and assaulted him with burning sticks throughout the night.

Ayush was rushed to the primary health centre on January 10 from where he was referred to another health facility for better treatment, officials said. In his complaint, as per the media, Ayush said the attackers were angry because he entered the temple despite being a Dalit. Police said a case has been registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against five locals.

It is to mention here that since Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party backed by the RSS came to power in 2014, the assaults against the people belonging to minority communities have increased manifold in India. Particularly, members of the Dalit community are being attacked every now and then over trivial issues such as visiting a temple, drawing water from a well, sporting a moustache, etc.

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