On 13 January, X user The Dalit Voice published a post alleging that Hindus ostracised 20 Dalit families in Madhya Pradesh for eating prasad distributed by a Dalit person.
The post stated, “20 families were ostracised by Hindus for eating prasad from the hands of a Dalit person, incident took place in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.” However, the post lacked substantial news reports or evidence to support the claim. Similar posts were made by other social media users, amplifying the allegation without verified details or credible sources.
Another user Nadya wrote, “India 21st century looks like this. In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, around 20 families are facing a social boycott for accepting prasad from a Dalit man in Atrar village.” The X user cited the propaganda website Maktoob Media which also mentioned that “upper caste” families were boycotted. It read, “When news spread that upper-caste families had accepted prasad from a Dalit, the sarpanch allegedly declared a social boycott against all those who participated.”
India 21st century looks like this 👇
— Nadya (@JUS_FANofRG) January 13, 2025
In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, around 20 families are facing a social boycott for accepting prasad from a Dalit man in Atrar village. https://t.co/zBsnlJOPRj
The Dalit Voice’s Instagram account’s screenshot was shared by one Dr Sylvia Karpagam who wrote, “India’s love affair with discrimination.” There was no news report mentioned or details provided.
India’s love affair with discrimination pic.twitter.com/VDDNTRLChC
— Dr. Sylvia Karpagam (@sakie339) January 13, 2025
X users, including Arya_Anviksha_ and Dr Neha Das, refuted the claims and provided evidence to debunk fake news disseminated by social media users who refer to them as Ambedkarites.
Details of the incident
The fake news stems from reports of allegations made by a Dalit man from Atrar village in Chhatarpur district, where he claimed that he and five other families had been excluded from social events after they ate prasad (religious offering) distributed by him. However, the police have refuted the claims, stating there is a longstanding political dispute between two groups in the village.
A man named Jagat Ahirwar, who belongs to a Dalit community, filed a complaint with the Chhatarpur police on 7 January, alleging that in August 2024, he had distributed laddoos as prasad at a local temple. Following that, according to him, the village sarpanch, Santosh Tiwari, ostracised his family and five others who consumed the prasad. Ahirwar has claimed that these families were no longer invited to social gatherings, including weddings and other community events.
Furthermore, Ahirwar accused Tiwari of using caste divisions to enforce the boycott and said, “We are being denied basic community interaction because of an age-old caste bias.”
Police refute allegations, cite political rivalry
Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Shashank Jain spoke to the media about the incident and refuted the claims, saying, “We investigated the matter by speaking to the villagers but found no evidence of such ostracisation.”
The police said that the incident appeared to be a fallout of political animosity between two groups that stemmed from fiercely contested local elections. SDOP Jain added that the allegations might have been influenced by tensions between rival factions supporting Ahirwar, the former sarpanch, and Tiwari, the incumbent sarpanch.
Sarpanch Tiwari also denied any involvement and said, “These allegations are baseless and politically motivated. Ahirwar lost the sarpanch elections, and this is a tactic to defame me.”
Interestingly, media reports on this case categorically mention that the families that have allegedly been boycotted belong to both Dalit and upper-caste communities. A report in The Times of India, one of the first to cover the case, stated: “This prasad was shared with over 20 villagers from various castes, including Brahmins and other upper castes. Once word spread that upper-caste individuals had accepted prasad from a Dalit, the sarpanch allegedly ordered a social boycott of all these families.”