Kannauj: A woman farmer from Hajiapur village, under the Thathiya police station area of Kannauj district, has alleged that she was threatened with false implication under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after refusing to comply with a demand to touch her opponents’ feet. The matter has now reached the Tirwa Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who has directed police to investigate.
The complainant, Shivani Gupta, wife of Abhivash Gupta, submitted a written complaint at the police station resolution day held on Saturday. In her complaint, she stated that two women from her village have been deliberately letting their animals loose in her paddy fields every day, causing damage to her standing crops. Gupta, who earlier engaged in sharecropping but now farms independently, alleged that her decision to cultivate privately has angered her rivals, leading to repeated disputes.
According to Shivani Gupta, the conflict escalated on September 20 when the two women allegedly came to her house, verbally abused her, and physically assaulted her, leaving her injured. She further said that following the incident, both parties were summoned to Khairnagar police station for reconciliation. However, during the proceedings, her opponents allegedly demanded that her family members touch their feet as a condition for settlement. When the demand was refused, she claimed, her family was threatened with being falsely implicated under the SC/ST Act.
Gupta also alleged that some of her own family members, in collusion with Scheduled Caste villagers, were pressuring and harassing her, intensifying her ordeal. The situation compelled her to also escalate her grievances to the Chief Minister in writing.
Taking cognizance of the matter, Tirwa SDM Rajesh Kumar assured that the complaint has been formally registered and directed the police to conduct a fair investigation. Authorities have said that appropriate action will be taken once the inquiry is complete.
