Tensions Flare in Etawah Over Alleged Caste-Based Tonsuring, 34 Detained
GG News Bureau
Etawah, 27th June: Tensions escalated in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district on Thursday, days after the alleged caste-based tonsuring and humiliation of two Bhagwat Katha preachers in Dandarpur village. Protests erupted as members of Yadav groups demanded the arrest of all accused and withdrawal of the case registered against the victims.
Crowds gathered near the Agra-Kanpur highway and at Bakewar area, prompting a massive security response. Videos circulated on social media showed stone-pelting at police personnel, who in turn were seen brandishing firearms to disperse the crowd.
Etawah SSP Brijesh Kumar Srivastava confirmed that 19 individuals were detained and 13 vehicles seized during the unrest. “Law and order are under control, and the situation is normal,” he stated. He added that police were deployed preemptively based on intelligence inputs about planned protests.
Earlier, hundreds of protesters had gathered outside the Bakewar police station, accusing authorities of targeting victims instead of providing justice. Attempts to push into Dandarpur village triggered a confrontation, during which police used lathis to disperse the crowd. In retaliation, protesters pelted stones, damaging a police jeep and later fleeing towards the highway.
Triggering Incident: Alleged Caste-Based Assault
The incident that ignited the unrest occurred on the night of June 22–23, when Mukut Mani Yadav and his aide Sant Singh Yadav, both Bhagwat Katha preachers, were allegedly assaulted by a group of upper-caste men. The duo claimed they were interrogated about their caste, humiliated, tonsured, and subjected to degrading treatment.
In a viral video, the accused were reportedly heard saying, “You are being punished for coming to a Brahmin village.” One victim alleged, “They shaved my head and sprinkled urine on me to purify me.”
Following the video’s circulation, police arrested four residents of Dandarpur — Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi, and Manu Dubey.
Political War of Words
The incident has sparked a fierce political row. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the assault, calling it a violation of constitutional rights and warned of a mass movement if justice was not ensured.
In response, UP Minister Jaiveer Singh accused Akhilesh Yadav of giving the incident a “casteist spin” and inflaming public sentiment. “The incident appears to be part of a well-planned conspiracy, and the government is determined to expose the truth,” he said.
Singh emphasized that anyone breaking the law—regardless of caste—will not be spared, and criticised the SP for allegedly trying to divide society for political gain. “The BJP believes in Sanatan culture, not casteism,” he added.
Continued Crackdown
In addition to the four original arrests, 15 more individuals involved in the protests were detained, as police intensified efforts to restore order and investigate all angles of the incident. Authorities said AI surveillance and community outreach meetings are being used to maintain peace in the area.
The situation remains sensitive, with authorities on high alert as investigations continue into both the alleged caste-based atrocity and the violent protests that followed.
