In a deeply disturbing and enraging incident, an elderly Dalit couple in Madhya Pradesh’s Ashok Nagar district was subjected to horrific violence and humiliation. The couple was tied to a pole, brutally beaten, and forced to wear garlands of shoes after their son allegedly eve-teased a woman.

This heinous act occurred in Kilora village under the jurisdiction of Mungaoli police station on Friday. The son of the couple was accused of eve-teasing the wife of one of the attackers. Despite fleeing the village after the incident, the Dalit family returned, only to face this barbaric act of retribution.

The victims, a 65-year-old man and his 60-year-old wife, were mercilessly assaulted and publicly shamed. The perpetrators, showing no regard for human dignity or justice, took the law into their own hands, driven by caste-based hatred and misogyny.

A case has been registered against 10 individuals under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, obscene acts, and criminal intimidation. Additionally, charges have been filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Despite these legal actions, all accused remain at large, evading arrest and accountability.

The police, led by Mungaoli station in-charge Gabbar Singh Gurjar, have vowed to capture the culprits. However, the delay in bringing these criminals to justice only highlights the systemic failures that continue to plague our society.

This incident is not just a violation of the law but an affront to human decency. It underscores the urgent need for societal change and stricter enforcement of laws protecting marginalized communities. The violence inflicted upon this couple is a stark reminder of the deep-seated prejudices that persist in our communities, and it demands a collective, outraged response.

The plight of the Dalit couple is a call to action for all of us. We must stand united against such atrocities and ensure that justice is not just a distant dream but a lived reality for everyone, regardless of caste or background. The voices of the oppressed must be heard, and the perpetrators must be held accountable for their inhumane actions.