New Delhi, A 55-year-old Dalit sanitation worker was coerced and assaulted by a group of Hindutva extremists in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, for his hesitation to chant Hindu religious slogans. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and highlights ongoing issues of caste discrimination and religious intolerance in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the worker was surrounded by the assailants on his way to work and pressured to chant “Ram Ram.” Despite complying, his inability to continuously recite “Jai Shri Ram” and other slogans led to a physical assault that left him severely injured. Himanshu Valmiki, the district coordinator of the Bhim Army, a Dalit rights organization, described the attack as a manifestation of religiously motivated violence deeply entrenched in caste discrimination. He stressed the critical condition of the victim, who suffers from pre-existing health issues and is currently receiving medical care at a local facility.
The incident gained further attention when Valmiki shared a video on social media platforms, showing the victim detailing his traumatic experience. The video includes the victim’s emotional account of the derogatory remarks made during the assault, underscoring the brutal nature of the attack. This episode is part of a troubling trend of increased violence against marginalized communities in India, correlating with the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the rise of Hindu nationalist groups affiliated with the Sangh Parivar.