Bhubaneswar, June 24 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the inhuman torture inflicted on two Dalit youths in Singipur village under Dharakot block of Ganjam district in Odisha.

Terming the incident a stark reminder that caste discrimination still persists, Rahul stated on social media, "This incident is a mirror for those who say caste is no longer an issue."

He demanded the immediate arrest and strict punishment of the culprits involved.

"The country is governed by the Constitution, not by the selective memory of individuals," Rahul Gandhi remarked.

Describing the brutality, the Congress leader said the Dalit youths were forced to kneel, eat grass, drink dirty water, and were paraded through the streets on their knees. He called the act not just inhuman but a barbaric assault on the ideals of humanity.

"Every incident that violates the dignity of Dalits is an attack on Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution," he emphasized.

Rahul alleged that such incidents are becoming increasingly common in BJP-ruled states due to politics rooted in hatred and discrimination.

He further stated that atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and women have risen alarmingly in Odisha.

The horrifying incident, which occurred in Dharakote block of Ganjam district, went viral on social media. The video shows the two Dalit youths being publicly humiliated and tortured over mere suspicion of cattle smuggling.

The victims, residents of Haripur village, were reportedly transporting three cows to Singipur as dowry for a wedding when they were stopped by a mob.

On suspicion of illegal cow smuggling, the mob tied them with ropes, paraded them through the village on their knees, and forced them to drink dirty drain water.

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