A serious and deeply disturbing case of caste-based abuse has emerged from Mainpuri district in Uttar Pradesh, where a 14-year-old Dalit student studying at a private school was allegedly subjected to casteist slurs, brutally assaulted, and threatened with death. Since the incident, the victim is reported to be unable to walk properly.

The incident took place at Lallu Singh Inter College, located under the Kurawali police station area. According to the victim’s family, on January 29, the Class 8 student was drinking water at the school when a water pipe broke. The family claims that the pipe was actually damaged by another student, but the entire blame was shifted onto the Dalit student.

As per the complaint, soon after the allegation, the student was humiliated on the basis of his caste. Suveer Singh (son of Vijay Singh) and Rajeev Verma alias Raju Lodhi (son of Mahavir Singh) allegedly used casteist language, physically assaulted the student, and threatened him with dire consequences. It is alleged that while leaving, they told him, “If you come to school again, we will kill you.”

The victim’s elder brother, a resident of Ghanrajpur in Kurawali, submitted a written complaint at the police station on January 30. An FIR was registered the same day at 6:53 pm. The police have booked the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Kurawali Station House Officer Lalit Bhati confirmed the registration of the FIR and said that the investigation is underway. The probe has been assigned to Sub-Inspector Sachchidanand Singh.

Following the incident, there has been widespread anger at the local level. Social activists and Dalit organisations have questioned the role of the administration and school management in ensuring the safety and equality of children in private educational institutions. They have demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and action against the school administration as well.

The police said that all facts are being thoroughly investigated and further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.