A 24-year-old Dalit youth from Gujarat was brutally beaten by a group of upper-caste men after he posted a picture of himself on social media wearing a traditional headgear (safa) and sunglasses, Deccan Herald reported.
The incident occurred on July 17 in Sayebapur village, Sabarkantha district, and underscores the persistent caste-based discrimination in the region.
The victim, Ajay Parmar, a three-wheeler driver, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Gadh police station in Banaskantha on July 18. Parmar recounted that he was attacked by four men from the Darbar community, who identify as upper-caste Kshatriyas.
The assailants reportedly confronted Parmar near the Navanagar bus stand, accusing him of misusing symbols like the safa and sunglasses, which they claimed were reserved for their community.
“They told me that only people from the Darbar community can wear safa and sunglasses. They beat me up and told me to remove the picture,” Parmar told Deccan Herald. The violence did not stop there; Parmar was later assaulted again in his village.
This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of similar attacks in Gujarat. In June 2023, a 21-year-old Dalit youth and his family were assaulted by members of the upper-caste Rajput community in Mota village, Palampur, for wearing sunglasses and dressing well.
Parmar’s FIR names four accused: Kirpalsinh Rathod, Manusinh Rathod, his son Hitendrasinh Rathod, and Shukalsinh Rathod. Parmar alleged that when his father called the local police for help, they arrived an hour later.
Sanjay Goswami, a police sub-inspector at the Himatnagar rural police station, confirmed that the accused have fled the village and stated, “We are investigating the case.”
The violence against Dalits in Gujarat has been ongoing. In November 2023, a 21-year-old Dalit youth was assaulted by his employer for requesting his salary.
In February 2024, a Dalit groom was attacked for riding a horse during his wedding procession in Gandhinagar district. These incidents highlight a troubling trend of caste-based violence and discrimination in the state.
The repeated assaults on Dalits for asserting their identity and rights illustrate the deep-seated prejudices and the urgent need for social and legal reforms to protect marginalized communities in Gujarat.