MP: Video Shows Dalit Man Beaten to Death in Shivpuri District, Sarpanch Held

On November 26, a 30-year-old Dalit man was beaten to death in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district. The victim, Narad Jatav, was brutally beaten to death with sticks and rods in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district. The deadly assault, allegedly orchestrated by the village sarpanch and his family, reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute over a pathway and bore well.

A purported video of the incident went viral on November 27, (Wednesday), which shows multiple accused people repeatedly beating up Jatav despite he pleading them to stop.

As per a report in the Indian Express, the victim Narad Jatav visited his maternal uncle’s home in Indragiri village on Tuesday evening, unaware of the horrific fate that awaited him. A long-standing dispute over a pathway and bore well had been simmering, and it finally boiled over into violence.

The attack, allegedly orchestrated by village sarpanch Padam Dhakad and his family, was sparked by an argument over a bore well pipeline that Narad had removed. The situation quickly escalated, with the accused surrounding Narad and brutally assaulting him. Despite witnessing the attack, the perpetrators showed no mercy, stopping only when Narad succumbed to his injuries.

The victim’s brother Shailesh claimed that, “The land over which there is a fight is in our name. It is registered in the name of my mother, aunt and other family members. That bore well was made under a partnership, but they encroached on it. We protested before the authorities but nobody listened to us.”

However, police arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the assault and later transferred the body to the district medical college for a post-mortem examination.

FIR Against 8 Individuals

Superintendent of Police Aman Singh Rathore confirmed that a case has been registered against eight individuals, including the sarpanch, under charges of murder. Four people have been arrested so far, according to Indian Express.

After the incident came to light, MP State Congress president Jitu Patwari wrote on X, “On one hand, the whole country is celebrating Constitution Day, people are talking about the ideas of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, and on the other hand, under BJP rule, a Dalit brother was beaten to death with sticks. Today, the BJP rule has become synonymous with exploitation and atrocities on Dalits. The state’s Home Minister is holidaying abroad, and the mafia flourishing under his protection.”

Moreover, while condemning the killing, former chief minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath wrote on X that, “A Dalit youth was beaten to death with sticks in Indergarh of Shivpuri. After this murder in broad daylight, it has been proved once again that Dalits are not safe in Madhya Pradesh.”

The brutal killing of Dalit man Narad Jatav in Madhya Pradesh highlights the concern for caste-based violence across the country, particularly in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

Notably, Sabrang India in its previous report highlighted the rising violence with Dalits in Madhya Pradesh, The rising number of atrocities against Dalits, particularly in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, paints a disturbing picture of India’s ongoing struggle with caste-based violence.

Despite the enactment of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the implementation of this crucial law remains weak, with high crime rates, low conviction rates, and inadequate special courts hindering justice. Uttar Pradesh continues to lead in the number of atrocities against Dalits, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, underlining the urgent need for systemic change.