In a disturbing incident reported from Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, two Dalit youths were assaulted, tonsured, and garlanded with slippers by a mob after being accused of goat theft. The incident occurred on December 27 near the Baredia bridge under the jurisdiction of Biridi police station. Odisha Congress leader Amiya Pandav brought the matter to light by sharing a video of the attack on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation across the country.

According to police, the two youths were transporting goats in an autorickshaw when they were stopped by locals who questioned their identity and accused them of theft. The victims were subjected to caste-based abuse, physical violence, and public humiliation. A complaint lodged on January 1 by one of the victims’ fathers alleged that the mob not only assaulted his son and his friend but also robbed a silver necklace belonging to his son during the attack. The police have since registered two FIRs and booked seven individuals under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Congress leader Pandav condemned the incident, criticizing the ruling BJP government in Odisha for failing to uphold law and order. “Human dignity is in danger,” he wrote on X, calling the attack a reflection of growing caste-based violence under the BJP’s “double-engine Sarkar.” The incident has drawn widespread attention, raising concerns over the treatment of marginalized communities and the persistent issue of caste-based discrimination in the country.