A Dalit man was brutally assaulted inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple in Barabanki after allegedly being denied the right to worship due to his caste.
The victim, 27-year-old Shailendra Pratap Gautam, claims he was beaten with a temple bell and brass pot by priest Aditya Tiwari and his sons Akhil and Shubham Tiwari.
“They told me Dalits aren’t allowed to worship,” said Shailendra, who sustained serious injuries to his head and chest. “They hit me on the head, kicked me in the chest. Only when others rushed in did I survive.” The entire incident was captured on CCTV.
The attack reportedly occurred on July 10 evening. Shailendra was initially taken to Ramnagar CHC and later referred to Lucknow due to the severity of his injuries. The temple and surrounding area are now under heavy police presence as tensions escalate.
The accused, however, claim the altercation began after Shailendra made inappropriate comments about Shubham’s wife. Aditya Tiwari, a priest and brother of the village head, denied any caste-based slurs but acknowledged a scuffle took place. Both sides have filed complaints.
Police say the matter is under investigation, and action will be taken if the caste-based assault allegations are confirmed.
