- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The victim, Mota Naveen, was attacked and humiliated by a person named Mannam Ramanjaneyulu and eight others on June 19.
By: Shubham Ghosh
IN a revisit to the shocking incident of a man urinating on a tribal counterpart in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the police in Ongole in Prakasam district of the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday (19) arrested six individuals who were allegedly involved in a clash that resulted in a tribal man being urinated upon last month. The clash occurred in relation to the victim’s affair with a girl.
The victim, Mota Naveen, was attacked and humiliated by a person named Mannam Ramanjaneyulu and eight others on June 19. Notably, two of the assailants were juveniles.
Ramanjaneyulu is currently on the run.
According to Prakasam district superintendent of police Mallika Garg, Ramanjaneyulu and Naveen were once friends but their relationship soured due to the latter’s involvement with a girl related to Ramanjaneyulu’s friend.
A case was filed against Naveen under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after he allegedly eloped with the girl, resulting in his arrest and remand. Despite this, Naveen continued his relationship with the girl, infuriating Ramanjaneyulu and his friends, causing further strain in their friendship.
In a deceptive attempt at reconciliation, Ramanjaneyulu called Naveen and lured him into meeting up. However, after consuming alcohol together, Ramanjaneyulu and his companions viciously attacked Naveen, going so far as to humiliate him by urinating on him.
Naveen reported the incident to the police and sought medical attention at a hospital, but he did not initially disclose the appalling act of urination. As the police investigation intensified, they came across video evidence of the abhorrent act.
Considering the severity of the crime and recognising that Naveen belongs to a tribal community, the police invoked the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities Act suo motu (on its own) in the case.
However, Garg said it was not a premeditated caste prejudicial case as all of them were friends while Ramanjaneyulu and Naveen together had committed several serious crimes, including having history-sheets and about 30 cases registered against them.
The police are actively pursuing Ramanjaneyulu, who remains at large.
Recently, an act of urination on a tribal labourer in Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh caused a massive outrage and the chief minister of the state stepped in and even called the victim to his house and washed his feet. The accused was arrested and even his house was partially pulled down by the authorities.
