Around 20 families in Atrar village of Chhatarpur district are allegedly facing ostracism after accepting prasad from a Dalit man, leading to claims of a social boycott. The families have approached the Superintendent of Police (SP), Agam Jain, accusing the sarpanch (village head) of ordering the boycott after word spread that upper-caste individuals had eaten prasad distributed by Jagat Ahirwar, a Dalit man.
The incident took place on August 20, 2024, when Ahirwar, who distributes prasad at the Talaiya Hanuman Temple, offered a special prasad of Magaj Laddu after his personal wish was fulfilled. The prasad was shared with more than 20 villagers, including individuals from upper-caste communities like Brahmins. Once it became known that upper-caste members had accepted the prasad from a Dalit, the sarpanch reportedly ordered a social boycott of the affected families.
Those affected by the boycott claim they have been excluded from social events like weddings and other important ceremonies ever since the incident. Despite approaching the district authorities and lodging a complaint with the SP, the families have reported that the situation remains unresolved, with the tensions persisting.
SP Agam Jain acknowledged receiving complaints from both sides and assured that an investigation is underway. “We are looking into the matter. Senior officers have been deployed,” Jain said.
Some locals believe that underlying tensions between the sarpanch and a former sarpanch may have exacerbated the situation, with personal conflicts fueling the caste-based division. Local authorities have attempted to mediate, but the community remains divided.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.