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News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Etawah Tonsuring Row: Stone Pelting On Cops, 19 Detained; Akhilesh Blames BJP For Tensions
Last Updated: Bhagwat Katha preachers alleged that they were asked about their caste and humiliated allegedly by men belonging to "upper caste" in UP's Etawah. Tensions escalated in Dandarpur village of Uttar Pradesh's Etawah after members of the Yadav groups on Thursday protested against the alleged caste-based tonsuring of a Bhagwat Katha preacher and his aide, demanding the arrest of all accused. The police said that the large crowds gathered near the Agra-Kanpur highway and at the village in the Bakewar area. Unidentified individuals pelted stones at police personnel despite the cops brandishing firearms in the air to warn the protesters. The incident that triggered protests took place on the night of June 22-23 in the village, where two Bhagwat Katha preachers, Mukut Mani Yadav and his aide Sant Singh Yadav, were allegedly tonsured and insulted by people belonging to 'upper-caste" after they found that the preachers were from the Yadav caste. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday slammed the BJP over the incident, describing it as a larger conspiracy to divide the state along caste lines by bringing in 'planted elements" from neighbouring states. 'The BJP is deploying its 'planted people' with strategic surnames from neighbouring states to carry out its infiltrative politics and disturb social harmony in Uttar Pradesh. But the people of Uttar Pradesh are aware of the truth. Society here will not be divided by the actions of a few negative elements -� it will emerge even stronger," Akhilesh said on X. UP Minister Jaiveer Singh accused Akhilesh of giving the incident a 'casteist spin" and blamed him for stoking violence. According to Etawah Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, as the police received information about protests by the groups, they had deployed forces in the town, on the highway and in the village to ensure law and order. 'Around 1:30 pm, a sizeable crowd started gathering on the Agra-Kanpur highway. While most were convinced to disperse, a few tried to enter Dandarpur village forcibly, which created a situation that could have disrupted peace," he said. The SSP said that 19 people were detained and 13 vehicles were seized, adding that the situation is now normal. Earlier in the day, hundreds of people from Yadav groups went to the Bakewar police station to surround it in protest. They were angry about the police allegedly acting against the victims instead of the accused and were demanding the arrest of those responsible. SP (Rural) Sreesh Chandra told reporters that police tried to stop the crowd, but an argument broke out. When the protesters kept moving forward, the police used lathis (sticks) to push them back. In response, some people in the crowd threw stones at the police, and a police jeep's windshield was damaged. Some protesters then ran towards the Agra-Kanpur highway. इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई।हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025 Akhilesh Yadav had shared a video of the alleged incident with the preachers, in which the accused purportedly said, 'You are getting punished for coming to the village of Brahmins." The victims alleged that they were first asked about their caste and forced to show identification, and then humiliated. 'I was tortured all night. My head was shaved, and they sprinkled urine on me, saying it was to purify me," Sant Singh Yadav said. After the video surfaced online, the police arrested four accused identified as Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi, and Manu Dubey. Location : Etawah, India, India First Published: June 27, 2025, 18:48 IST News politics Etawah Tonsuring Row: Stone Pelting On Cops, 19 Detained; Akhilesh Blames BJP For Tensions
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Katha To Caste Conflict: Brahmin Vs Yadav Turns Into Political Battle In UP's Etawah
Last Updated: What began as a religious discourse and humiliation of a Yadav narrator in a Brahmin-majority village led to mass protests, clashes with police, and a sharp political response 'First they asked about my caste. When I said I was a Yadav, they accused me of being a Dalit. Then they beat me, chopped off my hair, and shaved my head," recalled Bhagwat Katha narrator Mukut Mani Yadav, trembling after what he says was a brutal caste-based attack in Dadarapur village of Etawah. What began as a religious discourse and public humiliation of a Yadav narrator in a Brahmin-majority village has triggered a fierce backlash, leading to mass protests, violent clashes with police, and a sharp political response—sparking a fierce Brahmin vs Yadav confrontation in the heart of Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place on June 22 during a Bhagwat Katha organised at the residence of Jai Prakash Tiwari in Dadarapur village, about 35 km from Etawah town. Narrator Mukut Mani Yadav, who was invited by local priest Ram Swaroop Das, alleged that he was first asked his caste by locals. Upon learning he was a Yadav, a group of villagers allegedly assaulted him, shaved his head, and vandalized his musical instruments. A video that went viral shows the narrator's hair being cut off by youths amid loud jeers. His associate's head was also forcibly shaved. According to Mukut Mani, a female devotee was forced to rub her nose on someone's feet in an act of forced humiliation. 'They said Yadavs had no right to preach in a Brahmin village," he claimed. 'He told my wife to feed him by hand and serve him for seven days to gain punya," Jai Prakash told reporters. 'My wife got scared and informed me. When I confronted them, they left in a hurry and dropped two Aadhaar cards—one with Agnihotri and one with Yadav." His wife, Renu, added, 'We were told he was an Agnihotri. We never asked his caste after that. But his behavior during rituals was uncomfortable. He was touching inappropriately during puja." Both deny involvement in any violent act, saying that 'some boys in the village" acted on their own. इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई।हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025 YADAV ANGER EXPLODES On Thursday, the situation escalated dramatically when nearly 2,000 members of various Yadav organizations gathered outside Dadarapur, demanding the release of Indian Reforms Organization's national president Gagan Yadav, who was detained by police ahead of his planned protest visit. The crowd turned aggressive, blocking the Agra-Kanpur National Highway and clashing with police. According to officials, the protesters pelted stones at police vehicles, breaking windshields and injuring personnel. In response, police used force to disperse the crowd. Eyewitnesses say a Circle Officer and Inspector drew their pistols and chased protesters, with unconfirmed reports of aerial firing. 'A few people tried to incite violence. Stone pelting happened. But there was no police firing," said ASP Rural Shreeshchandra. Nineteen protesters have been detained, and search operations have been launched in four villages—Dadarapur, Ureng, Pahadpura, and Noudhana—for others involved. AKHILESH YADAV'S INTERVENTION As the protests gained traction, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav weighed in strongly, turning the incident into a political flashpoint. He met Mukut Mani and Sant Kumar in Lucknow, offered them Rs 51,000 each, and gifted them new musical instruments. He also invited them to perform a Katha at the SP headquarters. 'Prabhutvawadi seemayein langh gayi hain (supremacist limits have been crossed)," Akhilesh said. 'They shave heads, beat people, snatch instruments, and demand money. Who gives these supremacists such impunity? This is a heartless government that supports every unconstitutional act." A VILLAGE DIVIDED, A TEMPLE EMPTY Dadarapur, a village with 103 Brahmin households and a mix of Thakur and Dalit families, now resembles a fortress. Roads are barricaded, police from 12 stations are deployed, and tension hangs heavy. The temple where the Katha was held is locked. The sacred kalash lies abandoned. The event tent has been dismantled. Ram Swaroop Das, the priest who arranged the Katha, is absconding. Locals admit that caste was not discussed openly until now. 'No one knew they were Yadavs," said a villager. 'The invitation card listed him as Pandit Mukut Mani Maharaj from Vrindavan. His assistant Surdas had a family link here. That's how it came out." THE POLITICAL UNDERCURRENT While the state government has remained largely silent, the opposition has found in this a potent narrative of upper caste oppression and police bias. Dalit and OBC activists have drawn parallels to past cases where caste-based humiliation went unpunished or was institutionally inverted through FIRs against victims. 'The government must answer—how is the victim now the accused?" asked Rajeev Yadav, a protester from Mainpuri. 'Is this justice or a show of caste supremacy?" he added. With the village still tense, political temperatures rising, and no arrests of the alleged attackers, the road to justice appears uncertain. But one thing is clear: the Brahmin vs Yadav flashpoint in Dadarapur is no longer a local issue. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Akhilesh Yadav news18 specials Location : Etawah, India, India First Published: June 27, 2025, 18:39 IST News india Katha To Caste Conflict: Brahmin Vs Yadav Turns Into Political Battle In UP's Etawah
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- Scroll.in
4 arrested for tonsuring religious preacher, aide in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah
Four persons were arrested after a group of upper caste men allegedly tonsured the head of a religious preacher and his assistant after finding that they were from the Yadav community in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district, PTI reported. The incident took place on Sunday night and persons accused in the matter were arrested on Monday. The police took action after the video of the preachers being tonsured was widely shared on social media. The preachers had gone to Dandarpur village for a narration of the Bhagwat Katha, a Hindu religious text. Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, the senior police superintendent of Etawah, said that the video shared on social media showed that after the religious event, 'villagers were misbehaving with two people, and cutting their hair despite their unwillingness'. After taking cognisance of the video, the police reached the spot and identified the person whose head had been tonsured, the officer told PTI. Based on the victim's complaint, a case was registered. The main person accused in the matter is among the four individuals who have been arrested. The four have been identified as Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi and Manu Dubey. All of them are residents of Dandarpur. In a video shared on social media, a person is heard telling the preacher, Sant Singh Yadav, that he was being 'punished for coming to the village of Brahmins'. 'We were questioned over our caste,' PTI quoted him as having alleged. 'It was said that we are chamar [Scheduled Caste], but I said I am not a chamar, I am Yadav'. Sant Singh Yadav alleged that he was 'tortured throughout the night'. 'Urine was sprinkled over me, and I was told that now I have become pure,' he alleged. इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई। हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025 Sharing the video in a social media post, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that the Constitution does not allow caste-based discrimination and that the incident was a ' crime committed against the fundamental right to live with dignity and respect'. The former chief minister had said on Monday that if the police did not act within three days, he would call for a 'major movement' to protect the 'dignity and honour of PDA', referring to pichde (backward classes), Dalits and alpsankhyak (minorities).
News18
5 days ago
- News18
UP ‘Kathavachak' Beaten For ‘Not Being A Brahmin': Nose Rubbed On Feet, Gold Chain Stolen
Last Updated: The victim claimed that the attackers shaved his head and even stole Rs 25,000 and a gold chain from him. In a disturbing case of caste-based violence, a Bhagwat Kathak (Bhagavad Gita reciter) was brutally assaulted in Dadrapur village, Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, the victim, a member of the Yadav community, was attacked by individuals allegedly from the Brahmin community for not belonging to the 'expected" caste of a Gita reciter. He and several members of his team were reportedly targeted during the incident. Shocking videos of the assault have since gone viral, sparking outrage and widespread condemnation on social media. According to The Free Press Journal, the victim, identified as Mukutmani Singh Yadav, a resident of Kanpur, has accused Pappu Baba of attacking him upon learning about his caste. Pappu was the one who organised the seven-day religious event, where he invited Mukutmani and his fellow reciters to perform in the Dadar Pur village of Mahewa block. However, when the locals learned that the reciter was from the Yadav community and not a Brahmin, they turned violent, leading to the attack. जिला इटावा के अहेरीपुर क्षेत्र में यादव समाज के कथावाचक अपनी कथा कर रहे थेक्षेत्र के ब्राह्मण समाज को जैसे ही पता चला कि ये कथावाचक यादव समाज के हैं, उन्होंने कथावाचक के साथ मारपीट की व उनका सिर मुंडवाया इतना ही नहीं, अपमानित करते हुए सार्वजनिक रूप से उनकी नाक को जमीन में… — Priyanshu Kumar (@priyanshu__63) June 23, 2025 As claimed by Mukutmani, Pappu Baba, along with Atul, Manish, Dealer, and many other villagers, started beating him with shoes, forcibly shaved his head, and even made him bow down to the villagers' footwear and apologise. He was also forced to rub his nose on the feet of one of the female devotees. Further in his claims, Mukutmani alleged that the attackers stole Rs 25,000 from him along with a gold chain before removing him from the village. A video going viral shows the reciter's head being shaved off by a group of people, with many mocking him and forcing him to apologise. Some could be heard threatening the man about entering the village of Brahmins. In prompt action, Mukutmani lodged a complaint with the police and even met SSP Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, demanding strict action. An FIR has been registered against Pappu Yadav and others under various IPC sections. Terming the incident as 'unacceptable," the SSP has assured swift action. On the other hand, the incident has also sparked heated reactions on the internet, with many condemning caste-based violence. इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई।हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025 Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also shared the video. 'Our Constitution does not permit caste-based discrimination; this is a crime committed against the fundamental right to live with dignity and respect," he wrote. The former Uttar Pradesh CM also demanded action on the matter. First Published:
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Viral Video Shows 'Yadav' Narrator Assaulted, Tonsured During 'Bhagwat Katha' In UP Village
Last Updated: A Bhagwat Katha in UP's Dandarpur turned controversial after caste-based violence against preacher Mukut Mani Yadav, sparking outrage, political backlash and police action A 'Bhagwat Katha' in Dandarpur village of Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district erupted into a major controversy after a disturbing case of caste-based violence came to light. The alleged public humiliation and assault of two men, namely Bhagwatcharya Mukut Mani Yadav and his assistant Sant Kumar Yadav, during a religious event has sparked widespread outrage, political backlash, and police action. According to police and eyewitness reports, the incident took place on Saturday, June 21, during the opening day of a week-long 'Bhagwat Katha' at a village temple. The spiritual recitation, which was scheduled to run till June 27, was being led by Mukut Mani Yadav, a religious preacher from Achalda in Auraiya district, along with his aide. Trouble began during the 'Kalash Yatra' procession, when a few locals allegedly confronted the preacher over his caste identity. What followed was a brutal and humiliating assault. As per a video now viral on social media, the preacher and his assistant were surrounded by a group of villagers, who allegedly cut off their hair and braids, forced them to rub their noses on the ground and touch a woman's feet. The victims were reportedly held hostage for nearly five hours, their harmonium was destroyed, and in a shocking claim, human urine was allegedly thrown at them. Watch the viral video: इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई।हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025 The video, which appears to have been filmed by one of the assailants, triggered swift outrage once it surfaced online. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava took immediate cognizance, and an FIR was lodged at Bakewar police station based on the victims' complaint. As of Monday, June 23, four individuals – identified as Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Awasthi, Pratham Dubey alias Manu Dubey, and Nikki Awasthi – were arrested and sent to judicial custody. The investigation is now being led by the Additional Superintendent of Police, with officials promising strict action. The incident has ignited a political firestorm in Uttar Pradesh. Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the incident as a gross violation of human rights and an affront to constitutional values. Sharing the video on social media platform X, Yadav said, 'Our Constitution does not allow caste discrimination, it is a crime against the fundamental right of a person to live with dignity and respect. All the accused should be arrested immediately and a case should be registered under appropriate sections." इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई।हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025 He further warned that if action isn't taken within 3 days, the party would launch a statewide agitation to protect the dignity of the PDA (Backward Classes, Dalits, and Minorities) communities. SP leaders including MP Jitendra Dohre, MLA Raghvendra Gautam, and Etawah district president Pradeep Shakya visited the victims and met with the SSP to demand accountability. Describing the episode as a textbook case of caste oppression, they slammed the state government for its 'failure to uphold social justice and maintain law and order". First Published: June 24, 2025, 13:37 IST
