Police Beating of Dalit Woman and Boy Goes Viral

A viral video from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, shows police officers brutally beating 15-year-old Dalit boy Deepraj Vanshkar and his grandmother Kusum Vanshkar in a GRP station. The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, reportedly occurred during an interrogation related to theft allegations against the boy's father, who is a daily wage laborer. Jabalpur Railway SP confirmed that the video is from October 2023 and involved individuals connected to a known criminal, Deepak Vanshkar, but this does not excuse the excessive force used by the officers. In response to public outcry, the GRP station in-charge, Aruna Bahane, has been removed, and an investigation has been initiated. Political leaders have condemned the violence, with Congress officials labeling it a reflection of systemic oppression against Dalits under the current government. The incident has reignited discussions on police brutality and the treatment of marginalized communities in India.