2 Dalit youth stripped, assaulted after argument with Ahmedabad restaurant owner

Ahmedabad: A Dalit youth was allegedly stripped and flogged while another was abused and assaulted by a group of men at a roadside eatery in Sabarmati Tol Naka area of Ahmedabad on Sunday night.

The incident took place at an eatery here around 7.30 pm when two Dalit youths Pragnesh Parmar and Jayesh arrived at the restaurant.

In the video that went viral on social media, one youth is seen being stripped and beaten with sticks.

"I will declare a Gujarat Bandh if the police does not arrest the perpetrators in 24 hours who attempted lynching of two Dalit youth in Ahmedabad yesterday night. Don't think Dalits are cowards: we believe in Constitution!" Jignesh Mevani tweeted with the video.

According to reports, he has been admitted in Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad under critical condition. The other youth, who had received injuries, was not hospitalised.

According to the Indian Express, an argument ensued between the eatery owner and Pragnesh after which the two youths were beaten up with sticks.

"Family members and acquaintances joined him in beating the youth," the Indian Express quoted the police as saying.

An FIR has been filed under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and under sections of Preventions of Atrocities against SC/ST Act.

A purported video of the incident that emerged Monday was reminiscent of the Una flogging incident of 2016, which had rocked the Gujarat politics.