Bramhapur: Police have arrested a 23-year-old man accused of confining, brutally assaulting, and abusing a Scheduled Caste man with caste-based slurs after he refused to participate in anti-social activities.
The incident, captured in a viral video, has sparked outrage in the region.
The accused, identified as R Sibaram alias R Arup, a resident of Pratap Krushnachandra Pur (Kaukhat) under Brahmapur Sadar police limits, was arrested on Sunday afternoon. He was produced before the court the same day.
According to police, the case was registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on a written complaint filed by Prashant Das (25) of Krupasindhupur village. Das and Sibaram knew each other.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Sibaram had repeatedly pressured Das to join him in anti-social activities. When Das refused, Sibaram allegedly confined him in a room for a day in February this year. During the confinement, Sibaram allegedly assaulted Das with a fibre stick with the intention to kill him, hurled casteist abuses, and threatened him with dire consequences if he disclosed the incident. Even after releasing Das, Sibaram continued to pressure him, prompting the complaint.
Police seized a pen drive containing the assault video, which has emerged as crucial evidence in the case.
“The victim belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, which is why provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked,” a police officer said.
Verification of Sibaram’s background revealed his alleged involvement in at least three previous criminal cases registered at Brahmapur Sadar Police station between 2023 and 2024. Investigation is underway to determine if others were involved in the incident.