Case Filed Against Station Officer and Four Others Under SC/ST Act on Court Order

Dalit Harassment Case Registered Against SO and Four Others Under SC/ST Act

Etawah, Uttar Pradesh | July 24, 2026 — In a significant development in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, a case has been registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act) against Station Officer (SO) Vipin Malik of the Bakewar police station and four other individuals. The order was issued by a special judge following a complaint filed by a Dalit man, Ajay Kumar.

Kumar alleges that he was subjected to assault and casteist slurs by the SO and other police personnel after refusing to perform forced labor on a farm. Notably, SO Vipin Malik continues to hold his position despite the registration of the case.

Allegations of Forced Labor and Abuse

The complainant, Ajay Kumar, a resident of Gopiyapura Karwa Buzurg village and belonging to the Katharia caste, stated in his complaint that he had been working for a person named Ramsarovar, tending to his fields, since October 2025. The incident allegedly occurred on January 11, 2026, when villagers Ashutosh Pandey and Chandramohan Pandey reportedly attempted to force Kumar to work on their farm, using casteist abuses.

When Kumar explained that he was already employed elsewhere and receiving timely payments, they allegedly assaulted him, threatened his life, and warned of implicating him in false cases. The complaint details a subsequent confrontation on the evening of February 25, 2026, where Ashutosh Pandey and Chandramohan Pandey allegedly colluded with SO Vipin Malik to have Kumar apprehended by police.

Assault and Abuse at the Police Station

According to the complaint, SO Vipin Malik and other police personnel allegedly beat both Ajay Kumar and his brother Anup Kumar, using casteist slurs. When Kumar's wife, Ramjanki, attempted to intervene, she too was allegedly subjected to casteist abuse and assault.

Subsequently, at the behest of Ashutosh Pandey and Chandramohan Pandey, Kumar was taken to the Bakewar police station. There, SO Vipin Malik and constables allegedly beat him severely. Kumar claims that when he resisted the assault, the police threatened to frame him and his family in false cases if he complained to any higher authorities.

Medical Examination and Demand for Action

Ajay Kumar was released on the evening of February 26, 2026, but alleges that he was not medically examined at the time. The following day, February 27, 2026, Kumar underwent a self-initiated medical examination at Etawah District Hospital, which revealed numerous external and internal injuries.

Kumar also filed an online complaint regarding the incident, but claims no action was taken. An FIR has now been registered at the Bakewar police station against Vipin Malik (SO Bakewar), Ashutosh Pandey, Chandramohan Pandey, Ramsarovar, and other unknown police personnel, based on the order of the Special Judge SC/ST.

Investigation and Questions of Accountability

The responsibility for investigating the case has been assigned to the Circle Officer (CO). This incident presents a significant challenge for the local administration and police department, particularly with serious allegations of law violations and Dalit harassment leveled against a senior officer.

Administrative sources indicate that action is typically taken against police personnel under the SC/ST Act after a preliminary inquiry. In such cases, an accused officer may be immediately suspended to ensure a fair investigation, especially when serious allegations emerge. However, the continued presence of SO Vipin Malik in his charge raises questions about the possibility of a fair investigation.

It remains to be seen what facts emerge from the CO's investigation and whether the police department takes immediate action in this matter. Last year, in November 2025, SO Vipin Kumar Malik was involved in a police encounter in Etawah district where a wanted criminal was injured and a constable was shot. This incident was another significant event during his tenure, though this time he faces serious criminal accusations.