Dalit man beaten in Vizag, but NOT due to caste-aparthied
The claim shared on Twitter goes "In AP's Vishakhapattanam, A SC youth was stripped, tied up and beaten up with shoes by the leader of the rulling party for questioning
A very disturbing video of a man tied to a tree and being beaten by is in circulation on social media. The video is being shared with claims that the man tied up is a dalit and he has been assaulted by Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party leader in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh.
The claim shared on Twitter goes "In AP's Vishakhapattanam, A SC youth was stripped, tied up and beaten up with shoes by the leader of the rulling party for questioning the lack of development. This is horrible face of caste-apartheid. @OHCHRAsia @UNWatch @UN_HRC"
While some users shared it in Hindi "वीडियो आंध्र प्रदेश के विशाखापट्टनम का है। दलित जाति के व्यक्ति को बांधकर जूतों से पीटा जा रहा है। पीटने वाला सत्ताधारी YSR पार्टी का नेता है। दलितों की स्थिति पूरे भारत में एक जैसे है। मैं फिर कह रहा हूं, क्या दलितों के अलावा किसी को बांधकर जूते मारे जा सकते हैं?".
When translated states that "This video is from Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. A Dalit man has been tied to a tree and is assaulted. The person abusing the victim is a leader of YSR party. Dalits position in the whole country is similar. I ask you whether persons other than Dalits are tied to tree this way and beaten?"
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7600778379993479&set=a.393780650693324&type=3
The same claim has been made the opposition leader of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, tagging the incident to Dalit atrocities in AP.
Fact Check:
The claim made is MISLEADING.
Though the incident took place in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh more than 10 days back, it came into limelight only after the victim registered a complaint against the accused in the police station. This incident took place in V. Juttada village in Pendurthi mandal of Vishakapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Both the victim whose name is Tarakaeshwar rao and the accused named Suri Babu belong to the Dalit community. Tarakeshwar rao was assaulted by Suri babu in connection with a missing cell phone. Suri babu accused Tarakeshwar rao of stealing the mobile phone. He tied him to a tree and abused him.
"AP police also issued a statement on Twitter stating that "A video of a person tied to a tree & being beaten in Vishakhapatnam is viral in the social media. On enquiry, it is revealed that two persons (both belong to SC caste) quarreled with each other over an issue of missing mobile phone. A case was registered by @vizagcitypolice in Pendurthy PS vide FIR No.373/2022 on 08.06.2022 and accused was arrested immediately on same day. A detailed report is being sent to @NCSC_GoI @thevijaysampla."
Though few reports also state that the accused is from YSR party, they also mention that the victim also is the follower of the same party leader, the police refuted the claim.
https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/districts/Visakhapatnam/11/122112686
According to the report by Boomlive, the police stated that the accused is a security guard.
According to the police, the accused is now in police custody. Though it is inconlcusive whether both accused and the victim belong to the ruling party , they both belong to Dalit community. Therefore, the claims made on the social media that a Dalit person is being assaulted by person due to caste-aparthied is MISLEADING.