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Dalit man ‘assaulted, forced to drink urine’ in 2nd such incident this month in Madhya Pradesh

The victim alleged that he was abducted from Gwalior and taken to Bhind district days after he stopped working as a driver for one of the accused. Three people have been booked in the case and two have been taken into custody

A police officer said the victim used to drive a Bolero vehicle for the main accused, Sonu Barua, a resident of Datawali village.

A Dalit man was allegedly assaulted and forced to drink urine in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district days after he stopped working as a driver for one of the accused, police said Tuesday. This is the second such incident reported from the state this month.

Three men, identified as Sonu Barua (38), Alok Pathak (40), and Chhotu Ojha (27), have been booked in connection with the incident, and the first two have been taken into custody, police said.

The victim alleged that the three accused abducted him from Gwalior and brought him to Surpura village in Bhind. There, the accused allegedly assaulted the victim and forced him to drink alcohol and then urine.

Police said the incident occurred on Monday night, and that the victim was admitted to Bhind District Hospital on Tuesday morning. Police have taken two of the accused into custody and registered a case, authorities said.

The victim told police that he worked as a driver. According to police, he was previously a driver for Sonu Barua, who is from Datawali village, but had stopped working a few days ago and moved to his in-laws’ home in Deendayal Nagar, Gwalior.

Police said that on Monday night, Sonu Barua arrived in Gwalior with Alok Pathak, also from Datawali, and Chhotu Ojha, a resident of Bhind.

Police said the victim alleged he was forcibly taken in a car to Surpura village, and that he was assaulted there, after which the accused fled.

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Additional SP Sanjeev Pathak said a case has been registered based on the victim’s complaint under charges of assault, abduction, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. “Sonu and Alok are in police custody. The search for Chhotu is ongoing,” police said.

Collector Karodi Lal Meena told the media that he had spoken with the victim’s father. “I have issued instructions to ensure all necessary medical examinations are conducted at the hospital in a timely manner,” the Collector said, adding, “Police are investigating the matter thoroughly.”

A similar incident took place earlier this month in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district, where another Dalit man was assaulted and urinated upon on October 14, allegedly after he objected to illegal excavation on government land near his farm.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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