UP Police Arrest Four Upper-Caste Men For Tonsuring Religious Preacher, Aide Over Yadav Caste Identity In Etawah Village

A video showing upper-caste men tonsuring a religious preacher and his aide in Dandarpur village of Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh, went viral, prompting swift police action, reported The New Indian Express.

The incident, stemming from the victims' Yadav caste identity, occurred on the intervening night of Sunday (22 June) and Monday (23 June).

"They asked for my ID, said I was a Yadav in a Brahmin village, tortured me all night, and forcibly shaved my head," the preacher alleged.

Police, taking cognisance of the circulating video, quickly responded. Senior Superintendent of Police, Etawah, Brijesh Kumar Srivastava stated, "A video pertaining to Bakewar police station went viral on social media on Monday, in which it could be seen that after the Bhagwat Katha, villagers were misbehaving with two people, and cutting their hair despite their unwillingness."

A police force immediately reached the spot and identified the victims. Based on the victim's complaint, the Bakewar police station registered a case. Police arrested four individuals, including the main accused, on Monday. Authorities identified the accused as Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi, and Manu Dubey, all residents of Dandarpur.

The assistant 'katha vaachak', Sant Singh Yadav, recounted the incident: "We were called to perform a Bhagwat Katha in Dandarpur village beginning Saturday (21 June). We were questioned over our caste. It was said that we are 'chamar' (scheduled castes), but I said I am not a 'chamar', I am Yadav."

He further alleged, "Urine was sprinkled over me, and I was told that now I have become pure. They also said, 'How dare you come to a village of Brahmins?'"