'Slapped 5 times in 15 seconds': Dalit woman assaulted by grocery seller over Rs 1,200 debt

BAREILLY: A woman was allegedly beaten by a grocery shop owner over a Rs 1,200 ration debt in Bareilly’s Subhash Nagar area on Wednesday, with a video of the assault surfacing online. An FIR has been registered against accused Mamta (only first name available), police said.The victim is said to belong to the Dalit community. However, police have not yet invoked provisions of the SC/ST Act in the case. Bareilly SSP Anurag Arya told TOI, “Following a complaint by the victim, an FIR has been registered under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation). The dispute appears to be monetary, as the victim’s daughter works as a domestic help for the accused. The claim regarding unpaid ration is also being verified.”In the purported 1-minute-19-second video, the accused, who appears to be in her 50s, is seen slapping the woman for six times while a man stands by without intervening. The accused is also heard threatening the woman, saying she would “have to pay Rs 12,000 instead of Rs 1,200” and that she had given ration on credit during the victim’s pregnancy. She is also seen pushing the woman and threatening to “make her clean washrooms”.The incident came to light after Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate shared the video on social media.