Dalit boy beaten for ‘touching water bucket’ in Rajasthan, ‘terrified to go back to school’

“We have interrogated the accused. If he is found guilty, procedure will be followed. The boy is safe to go back to school and there will be no trouble for him anymore. We have assured him of that,” an inspector said.

According to the complaint, a man from an upper caste, who was filling up water in a bucket at the time, assaulted the boy when he touched the bucket.

An eight-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly beaten up for touching a water bucket kept near a handpump at a village in Rajasthan’s Alwar district, police said.

The incident took place at around 9.30 am on Saturday, when the boy, a class 4 student at the government school in the village, went to drink water at the handpump located within the school premises. According to the complaint, a man from an upper caste, who was filling up water in a bucket at the time, assaulted the boy when he touched the bucket.

The boy’s father, who filed a police complaint in the matter, told The Indian Express, “There is a handpump inside the school boundary from where other people of the village also fill up their water. My son just touched the bucket to move it aside and drink water from the hand pump. The man was from an upper caste community, and he brutally beat up my son. Hearing his shrieks, my relative, who was passing by the school, reached the spot and saw my son weeping. I was informed about the incident and we went to the culprit’s home.”

According to the father, the man refused to apologise, and instead, used casteist slurs against him and his family. The man also allegedly told them that they would not be able to do anything about the incident.

“My son is terrified to go back to school. He has asked me to withdraw this complaint and is not ready to go back to school as he fears that the man will hit him again. I just want justice to be delivered and the culprit to be punished,” the boy’s father said.

A FIR has been registered under the SC/ST Act, and investigation is ongoing. Circle Inspector Sawai Singh said police were looking into the incident.

“We have interrogated the accused. If he is found guilty, procedure will be followed. The boy is safe to go back to school and there will be no trouble for him anymore. We have assured him of that,” the inspector said.

Parul Kulshrestha

Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions. Expertise and Experience Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public. Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas: Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight. Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women. Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use. Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More

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