Dalits allegedly thrashed in Gujarat for sporting moustache, wearing shorts

Darbars, who belong to the OBC in the state, also lodged a complaint, saying they were attacked by Dalits following a quarrel between children belonging to the two communities over a swing at a primary school.

“Cross FIRs have been registered and five of the accused from Darbar community have been arrested,” Ahmedabad SP R V Asari said.

In a complaint to the police, Ramanbhai Ramji Makwana, a retired government officer, said that a group of seven people had assaulted his nephew Vijay with knives and pipes and hurled casteist abuses for “wearing shorts and sporting a moustache”. He identified six of them, all residents of Kavitha village.

“They (accused) were in a pick-up truck which they used to deliver milk cans and were armed with knives, scythes and pipes with which they attacked Vinubhai Makwana, his sons Sanjay and Vijay and another person Pravinbhai Mavjibhai, who tried to intervene,” the FIR stated.

The counter FIR was filed by one Gambhirsinh against Vinubhai, Vijay, Pravinbhai and one Tulsibhai Hirabhai Makwana, accusing them of causing hurt and criminal intimidation. Gambhirsinh complained that Vijay and his father had dragged his employer’s son out of the vehicle and assaulted him over a fight in a school.