Fact-Finding Report on Caste-Based Atrocity and Assault Against a Dalit Father and Son

Date: 05-06-2026

On 2 May 2026, in village Jhakhra, Post Rautepur, Bithoor, under Sachendi Police Station, Kanpur Nagar, residents Rinku Kamal, son of Chedilal, and his son Shivam Kamal were allegedly subjected to caste-based abuse, physical assault, and an attempt to force them to drink water from a shoe by upper-caste youth of the village. The alleged reason was that Shivam, while working in his family’s field and feeling thirsty, tried to drink water from a government handpump located near the houses of Sanjay and Deepak, who belong to an upper caste.

It is reported that the incident took place on 2 May, but local police officials (specifically the in-charge of Rakepur Police Outpost) allegedly suppressed the matter after accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 and two ceiling fans. However, after the matter surfaced on social media around 15–16 May, it attracted public attention and became an example of the continuing insensitivity and discriminatory attitude of the existing administrative system toward the Dalit community.

While little can be expected from the current system, the Socialist Party (India), which is committed to working toward unity and equality among all sections of society, constituted a joint fact-finding team to ensure justice for the victim family. The team met the family on 1 June 2026, inspected the site, recorded eyewitness statements, and investigated the entire matter. The team included K.M. Yadav, Bharat Kumar, and Mahesh Tripathi from the Human Rights Cell of the Socialist Party (India).

Based on the site visit and collected testimonies, the following brief fact-finding report was prepared.

Background and Incident

A road from Tikra Bazaar leads toward the Bhauti Highway. Along this route lies village Jhakhra, a hamlet of Gram Panchayat Rastpur, inhabited by people from different communities. Rinku Kamal, a daily wage laborer, lives in this village.

When the fact-finding team first reached his house, Rinku was not present. Initially, his brother’s wife was hesitant and stated that she did not know where he was. After some conversation and gaining confidence that the visitors had come to help, she arranged contact with Rinku, who later met the team.

Rinku stated that on the evening of 2 May, he and his son Shivam were working in their field, located about half a kilometer from their house. Around 9 p.m., Shivam became thirsty and went to a government tap near the field. A bucket and jug belonging to Sanjay Rajput were kept there. Shivam used the vessel to drink water.

According to Rinku, Sanjay and his brother Deepak, sons of Munnilal Rajput, saw Shivam drinking water and began abusing him with casteist slurs. They allegedly said:

“You people of a low caste have polluted our religion by touching our bucket. We will punish this Kori today so severely that no low-caste person in the village will dare touch the utensils of an upper-caste family again.”

They continued using caste-based abusive language. Soon two more youths, Sagar and Patiya, sons of Chhote, joined them. According to the victims, they caught Shivam, removed his clothes, tried to force him into a humiliating position, and when he resisted, threw him onto the road and beat him mercilessly with kicks, punches, sticks, and clubs.

When Rinku attempted to save his son, he too was beaten severely with sticks. The accused allegedly left both father and son in a semi-conscious condition and fled.

Family members later arrived. Rinku’s younger brother’s wife called emergency number 112. A police response vehicle arrived but allegedly advised them to come to the police outpost the next day. An ambulance from 108 also arrived but reportedly left after telling them to visit a hospital the next day.

As a result, the injured remained in pain throughout the night without medical treatment or medicine. Family members provided whatever home remedies they could.

Alleged Police Pressure and Forced Settlement

On 3 May, police allegedly took the victims to the Rakepur Police Outpost. According to the victims, they were forced to sign blank papers, intimidated, and pressured into a compromise. It is alleged that a settlement was arranged after the accused side provided ₹20,000 and two ceiling fans.

For nearly two weeks, no action was taken on the victims’ complaint. Even after a court-directed registration of the case, the victims allegedly did not receive a copy of the FIR from Sachendi Police Station. They also claim that the Inspector pressured them to settle the matter.

Only after media coverage did the Assistant Commissioner of Police take cognizance of the case and begin personally supervising the investigation.

The victims told the fact-finding team that they wanted justice and strict action so that no one else would have to suffer a similar experience.

Statement of Shivam (16 Years Old)

The team met Shivam in Surar village, about two kilometers away from Jhakhra, where he had been staying with his maternal uncle due to fear following the incident.

The team observed that his arm was in a plaster cast and there were visible injury marks on his face, back, and legs.

Shivam stated that the day after the incident he was called to the Rakepur Police Outpost, where, in his presence, the accused side allegedly handed over ₹20,000 and two ceiling fans and forced the victims into a compromise through threats and intimidation. He stated that:

– No formal complaint was initially recorded.
– No medical examination was conducted.
– No treatment was provided at a government hospital.
– The family had to arrange private medical treatment at its own expense.

According to him, only after media reports and intervention by the Assistant Commissioner of Police were his statement recorded, a medical examination conducted, and a new plaster applied to his injured arm.

When asked what he wanted from the government, Shivam replied that the case should be properly heard in court and the guilty should be sent to jail.

Eyewitness Testimony

The team also spoke with local residents, including an elderly couple living near the scene who reportedly tried to rescue the victims and had given statements to the police.

According to them, they were working in a nearby field that night when they heard cries for help. Upon coming outside, they saw four youths beating Rinku and his son with sticks. The father and son were trying to escape while the youths continued striking them from behind.

The couple intervened and asked the attackers to stop. The youths then fled. When the couple approached the victims, they found both lying unconscious, though breathing. They stated that they did not know the exact cause of the dispute.

Meeting with the Village Head

The fact-finding team also met the Gram Pradhan (village head), who made only a political statement and declined to comment further.

Police Version

The team spoke by phone with the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sachendi Police Station. He stated that a case had been registered against the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and that legal action was underway. He added that the Assistant Commissioner of Police was personally investigating the matter.

The SHO denied the allegation that the victims had been forced to drink water from a shoe, calling that claim false. However, the FIR itself contains such an allegation.

When questioned about allegations of police personnel accepting money, the SHO disconnected the call and did not answer subsequent calls.

Conclusion

According to the fact-finding team, this is a highly sensitive case that local police initially attempted to suppress. Had the matter not gained attention on social media, the police might have succeeded in burying the case completely, while the Dalit victim family would have continued living under fear with potentially serious long-term consequences.

The findings suggest possible negligence, insensitivity, and corruption on the part of the police administration. The report argues that officials found responsible should face strict action.

The report further notes that the increasing incidence of caste-based and communal violence raises serious questions about the functioning of the present administrative system and its failure to foster social harmony and fraternity.

Demands

The fact-finding team demands that:

1. A judicial inquiry be conducted into the entire incident, and strict action be taken against all accused persons involved.
2. The role of the police in the matter be independently investigated, and action be taken against any officers found guilty.
3. Rinku Kamal’s family be provided compensation for the economic and psychological harm suffered, along with adequate security and protection.

Submitted by: Joint Fact-Finding Team

– Krishna Murari Yadav, Convenor, Human Rights Cell, Socialist Party (India), 9838775508, 7985181117
– Bharat Kumar, Social Activist
– Mahesh Tripathi, Social Activist