Odisha Dalit man made to rub nose in own spit for refusing temple donation

According to the complaint filed by Rekha, on April 16 evening sarpanch Chameli Ojha visited their house seeking a donation for the temple renovation and the installation of a new idol at the temple. Her husband, however, refused to give money saying he had made a donation earlier. Rekha further alleged that the sarpanch then abused the couple.

On April 17, a meeting was convened and the villagers were allegedly asked to boycott Mallick’s family for refusing to pay the donation. They ordered the Dalit man to rub his nose in his own spit as a punishment, Rekha said in her complaint.

The sarpanch dismissed the allegations. “The police can investigate the case, but all the allegations made are untrue. No such incident happened,” Ojha said.

The police have booked Ojha and three others under Indian Penal Code Sections 143 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (whoever intentionally insults) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

PK Kanungo, inspector in charge of the Marsaghai police station, said the matter was under investigation. “All allegations are being investigated,” he said.

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