Madhya Pradesh man who urinated on tribal labourer arrested, CM says ‘won’t spare him’

Madhya Pradesh,July 5:  Pravesh Shukla, the man who was caught on camera urinating on a tribal labourer, was arrested on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. A video of the act had gone viral with many people calling for action against Shukla.

The video was only recovered by the police on Tuesday, six days after the incident took place in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district.

A senior police official told ANI news agency that Pravesh Shukla has been taken into custody and is under interrogation.

An FIR was filed against Shukla under Sections 294 (Obscene acts) and 504 (Intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and under the SC/ST Act.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in reaction to the viral video, had also said that he instructed authorities to charge Shukla under the National Security Act.

Singh Chouhan said that the government will ensure “sternest possible punishment” for the accused to make an example of him.

“We will not spare him (culprit) at any cost,” he said.

When asked whether the accused belongs to the BJP as alleged from some quarters, Chouhan said, “Criminals have no caste, religion and party. A criminal is just a criminal. He will not be spared.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, “Irrespective of which party he is, whoever commits mistake will be punished.”

Ordered strict punishment for man who urinated on tribal labourer: Shivraj Chouhan

After the video surfaced, the opposition in the state alleged that Pravesh Shukla is the representative of BJP MLA Kedar Shukla. A photo of the two was shared by Shukla on Facebook. The BJP categorically denied having any association with Shukla.

Kedar Shukla also said Shukla was not his representative but accepted that he knew the accused.

However, Pravesh Shukla’s father, Ramakant Shukla, said his son was the representative of Kedar Shukla. “He is a representative of the BJP MLA, which is why he is being targeted by the opposition. I hope there is a thorough investigation in the case, and justice is served,” said Ramakant.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said, “I am pained to see a BJP leader urinate on the face of a tribal man. These people are so drunk on power that they don’t consider a man a man. This is an insult to crores of tribals of MPs, this is an insult to Tantia Mama and Birsa Munda . I want to warn the BJP and ask them to stop such atrocities. The Congress party stands with our tribal brothers.”

“The incident of a tribal/dalit youth being humiliated by influential local leader in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh is extremely shameful and no amount of condemnation can suffice for such inhumane acts. The government woke up only after the video went viral, which is highly distressing. The BJP-led government of Madhya Pradesh should abandon their attempts to protect the culprit and must not refrain from hiding his links with the party. His assets must be seized,” former Uttar Pradesh chief Mayawati said.

-The India Today