Outcry in India after man filmed urinating on tribal worker

Accused reportedly had association with ruling Bharatiya Janata Party

Activists of the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) hold placards during a protest in New Delhi on 31 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Police have arrested a man in India on suspicion of urinating on a tribal worker, after a video of the incident was widely shared online and triggered an angry backlash.

In the clip, the apparently drunk man is seen smoking a cigarette while urinating on the victim, who is sitting on the ground. Media reports identified him as Pravesh Shukla, from the central state of Madhya Pradesh, and said he was affiliated to prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“This incident has put entire Madhya Pradesh to shame. Strictest punishment should be given to the guilty person and atrocities on tribal [people] in Madhya Pradesh should be stopped," Kamal Nath, a former chief minister of the state, tweeted.

"The incident of a tribal/Dalit youth being humiliated by an influential local leader in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh is extremely shameful and no amount of condemnation can suffice for such inhumane acts,” former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said.

“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."

The outrage prompted chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to slap the stringent National Security Act against the accused.

He has also been charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act – which is meant to provide protection to the historically oppressed.

“A criminal is a criminal. He does not belong to a particular caste, religion or a party,” wrote the chief minister, after it was alleged that the man was associated with BJP. He said the government will ensure "sternest possible punishment" for the accused. “We will not spare him (culprit) at any cost.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said, "Irrespective of which party he is, whoever commits a mistake will be punished."

Photos of the accused with Sidhi BJP legislator Kedarnath Shukla and Rewa BJP lawmaker Rajendra Shukla, surfaced on social media. The party, however, categorically denied any association with him.

"I know him because he is from my constituency, but he is not my representative or a BJP worker," said Kedarnath Shukla. Meanwhile, the man’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," he said.

The wife of the victim demanded action against the accused. “He is my husband. If something wrong has been done, what has to happen will happen. There should be punishment if something wrong was done.”