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Bhopal, October 13 (IANS) In a move, Damoh district police have arrested the main accused and his associate in a caste-related incident that has sparked outrage across Madhya Pradesh.
The case involves a youth from the Kushwaha community who was allegedly forced to wash the feet of a Brahmin youth and drink the same water.
The incident took place in Sataria village under the jurisdiction of Patera police station and gained national attention after a video of the act (IANS does not confirm this) went viral on social media.
The arrests were announced during a joint press conference held by Damoh Collector Sudhir Kochhar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Shrutkirti Somvanshi.
Officials confirmed that two of the four persons named under various sections of the Indian Justice Code have been arrested, while two others remain unidentified.
The Superintendent of Police said that the main accused Annu and his associate were among those arrested.
Police teams are actively searching for the remaining accused and administrative forces have been deployed in the village to maintain peace.
The controversy started when Sataria village collectively decided to ban liquor. Anuj alias Annu Pandey, a Brahmin youth, was caught allegedly violating the ban.
Subsequently, Purushottam Kushwaha, the victim of the foot washing incident, allegedly created and posted a video and AI-generated image of Pandey wearing the shoelaces.
The post sparked outrage among the Brahmin community, leading to a gram panchayat, where Purushottam was reportedly forced to wash Pandey’s feet, drink water and pay a fine of Rs 5,100.
The act was filmed and widely circulated online. Although the authenticity of the video is unverified, officials acknowledged that AI-generated content played a role in escalating tensions.
District Collector Sudhir Kochhar urged citizens to use social media responsibly and warned that digital content – especially when manipulated – can disrupt social harmony.
A protest started at the SP office under the leadership of Kushwaha and members of other backward class communities demanding strict legal action.
In response, police assured that additional charges would be considered.
Meanwhile, Annu Pandey defended the act, claiming that whatever happened was a voluntary act on the part of Purushottam and was rooted in the guru-disciple relationship.
He apologized to the OBC community and requested that the matter not be politicized. Purushottam also expressed similar sentiments, saying that he did so out of respect and asked the authorities not to take legal action against him.
As the investigation continues, the incident highlights the volatile intersection of caste, digital media and community relations in rural India.
–IANS
SKTR/PGH