A brutal case of caste-based violence unfolded in the Indragarh village of Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district, where a 27-year-old Dalit man, Narad Jatav, was mercilessly beaten to death by a village sarpanch (headman) and his family members. The horrifying incident, which took place on November 26, has sparked outrage and condemnation across the region. The attack, which was captured on camera, shows the victim being violently assaulted by the accused, and the footage has since gone viral, drawing widespread attention to the case.
Narad Jatav, a resident of Gwalior, had traveled to his maternal uncle’s house in Indragarh village to visit relatives. On the day of the incident, he was helping to water the fields of his aunt, Vidya Jatav. The dispute reportedly began when Jatav started filling water from a common handpump located near the fields to irrigate the crops. This action led to a confrontation with the village sarpanch, Padam Singh Dhakad, and his family members, who allegedly took issue with how the water was being used.
The altercation quickly escalated from an argument to a violent assault. The group of accused individuals, which included the sarpanch, his relatives Betal Dhakad, Jaswant Dhakad, Awadhesh Dhakad, Ankesh Dhakad, Mohar Pal Dhakad, Dakha Bai Dhakad, and Vimal Dhakad, allegedly began hurling abuses at Jatav, which soon turned into physical violence. Armed with sticks and rubber pipes, they violently attacked Jatav, throwing him to the ground and beating him relentlessly.
According to witnesses, the assailants continued to assault Jatav, who tried to defend himself but was overpowered by the group. The attack was so brutal that Jatav lost consciousness. Despite the severity of his injuries, his relatives managed to rush him to the Shivpuri Medical College in the hopes of saving his life. However, Narad Jatav succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The entire incident was captured on mobile phone by a bystander, and the video has since been widely circulated on social media, showing the attackers mercilessly beating Jatav as bystanders looked on passively. The footage has intensified calls for justice and highlighted the chilling nature of caste-based violence that continues to plague rural India.
Following the incident, Narad Jatav’s brother, Rajkumar Jatav, filed a formal complaint with the Subhashpura Police. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against eight individuals in connection with the assault and subsequent death of Narad. Among those named in the FIR are Sarpanch Padam Singh Dhakad and his relatives, who allegedly participated in the attack.
The police have taken swift action, arresting four of the accused, including Sarpanch Padam Singh Dhakad. A manhunt is underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, who are believed to have fled the area after the incident. In addition to the charges for assault and murder, the police have invoked the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, given the victim’s Dalit identity, which adds a layer of legal protection for individuals from marginalised communities facing caste-based violence.
Senior police officer Sanjeev Mule stated that the case would be investigated thoroughly, and the authorities would ensure that justice is served. The police are also looking into the role of the bystanders who witnessed the assault but did not intervene to stop the attack.
