A chilling case of caste-based mob violence has emerged from Harogeri village in Karnataka’s Gadag district, where three minor Dalit boys were publicly lynched by 50–60 upper-caste men. The mob accused the boys of sending “obscene messages” to an upper-caste girl — a pretext that led to a violent, caste-driven attack.

The incident took place on May 28, but only came to light on June 7 when videos went viral, showing the boys tied to a gram panchayat flagpole, being mercilessly beaten with sticks, slippers, and ropes.

So far, eight people have been arrested, with more accused still at large. The Naragund police have filed charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the POCSO Act against 30 individuals. Inspector B. Manjunath confirmed ongoing efforts to track down others involved.

In a tragic turn, one of the victims attempted suicide by ingesting poison and remains in critical condition at KIMS Hospital, Hubballi.

Local sources claim that community leaders initially pressured the families to remain silent, with action taken only after the videos caused social media uproar.

Dalit rights activists have called for the immediate arrest of all culprits, strict enforcement of atrocity laws, and comprehensive rehabilitation for the victims’ families.

A grieving parent shared, “Untouchability still rules our village. This is our everyday reality.”