On July 5, Madhya Pradesh Police arrested Pravesh Shukla, a man filmed peeing on a tribal man in a viral video. The Additional Superintendent of Police, Sidhi, Anjulata Patle, said that the police are questioning the accused and that further legal action will be taken soon.
ASP Patle said, “We have taken the accused (Pravesh Shukla) into custody. He is under interrogation. Further legal action in the matter will be taken soon,” while talking to the media. A case has been registered against the accused under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and SC/ST Act. Notably, following the instructions of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the National Security Act (NSA) has also been imposed on him.
She added, “Based on the information, the police raided a few nearby villages. He was then arrested as per the information provided by various sources.”
Earlier, on July 4, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that instructions had been given to deliver the strictest punishment to the accused in the incident. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the state government would not spare him at any cost and punishment of the accused will become a moral lesson for everyone.
“A viral video of Sidhi district has come to my notice. I have instructed the administration to arrest the accused and take strict action against him and also impose NSA,” CM Chouhan wrote on Twitter.
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “I have instructed to give the accused the strictest punishment. It should be a moral lesson for everyone. We won’t spare him. An accused has no religion, caste or party. Accused is an accused,” while addressing the media in Bhopal.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan further said, “The accused has tarnished humanity. He has committed a very inhuman act. An offence for which the harshest punishment is imposed. Even the harshest words fall short of it. But I have instructed that the strictest punishment should be given and the strictest action should be taken. There should be an action that becomes an example.”
When asked whether the accused belongs to the BJP as alleged from some quarters, Chouhan said, “Criminals have no caste, religion and party. A criminal is just a criminal. He will not be spared.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, “Irrespective of which party he is, whoever commits mistake will be punished.”
The incident occurred in Kubri village in the district. In the viral video, the accused allegedly, in an inebriated state, is seen urinating on the face of the tribal man. The victim has been identified as Dasmat Ravat, a resident of Karaundi village in the district.
Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Narottam Mishra, has also reacted to the incident and said that it is a very condemnable incident. He said, “Strict action will be taken against the accused.”
The video is shocking and condemnable. Within an hour or so of its circulation, the video was seen on the handles of prominent Dalit activists and influencers claiming the victim man is a Dalit.
