UP: Dalit girl denied drinking water at temple, father attacked with trident

Lucknow, Aug 10: In a shocking incident, a Dalit girl was denied drinking water from a handpump in temple premises and her father was also attacked by the temple priest in Uttar Pradesh.

The incident took place in UP's Sambhal district when a 13-year-old girl who was drinking water from a handpump in the temple premises was stopped by the priest from doing so as she was a Dalit.

Not only the girl, even the girl's father was attacked with a trident when he tried to confront the priest.

According to a Zee news report, "Police have registered a case against the priest under SC/ST Act after the Dalit family protested. The temple priest has been arrested."

This incident has come to fore when already a number of incidents highlighting discrimination and atrocities against the Dalits are taking place in the country.

Recently, Gujarat witnessd a spate of sporadic protests and violence, allegedly after killing of a cow by Dalit community members in Una district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday came down heavily on the perpetrators of violence on Dalits, telling them, "if you have to attack, attack me" but stop attacking "my Dalit bretheren".

Facing increasingly bruising opposition assault on him and BJP over attacks on Dalits and on the issue of cow vigilantes, Modi also lashed out at "fake cow protectors", denouncing them for the second day running for trying to create "tension and conflict" in the society and asking the states to take stringent action against them.

Making an emotional appeal at a meeting of BJP workers in Hyderabad, Modi asked people to protect and respect Dalits who have for long been neglected by the society.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)