A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker has been arrested in Ballia district for allegedly assaulting a Dalit engineer inside a government office, an incident that has triggered widespread condemnation from opposition parties and reignited debates around caste-based violence and political impunity.
The accused, identified as Bahadur reportedly a BJP member and former office-bearer was taken into custody after a video of the incident, which took place on Saturday, went viral on social media. The footage shows Lal Singh, a superintending engineer in the electricity department, being verbally confronted and then struck with a shoe by a group of men inside his office.
According to the complaint, Bahadur and his associates used caste-based slurs during the attack, physically assaulted Singh with punches, kicks, and a shoe, and vandalised official documents. The complaint also alleges that the group threatened to kill Singh and his family if legal action was pursued.
District police have booked Bahadur and his accomplices under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Authorities confirmed that Bahadur has been arrested, and an investigation is ongoing.
Before his arrest, Bahadur claimed he had visited the office to submit a memorandum regarding electricity issues in his locality. He alleged that it was Singh who used abusive language first and that he was assaulted during the exchange.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) condemned the assault, accusing the BJP of enabling caste violence with impunity. In a strongly worded post, the TMC said: “This is a party that hides behind empty slogans of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ while trampling Dalits with boots and fists.” The party went on to say that as long as the BJP remains in power, Dalits will continue to face violence, democracy will remain compromised, and caste-based oppression will persist.
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