# Himachal Police Constable Accuses Senior of Caste Bias and Untouchability in Shimla, Case Filed Under SC-ST Act

> A police constable stationed at Chopal in Himachal Pradesh has lodged a complaint against his senior head constable for practicing untouchability and caste discrimination.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Himachal Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-09-23 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/shimla-ke-chopal-thane-men-tainata-arakshi-ne-siniyara-para-lagaya-chhuachhuta-ka-aropa-sc-st-kanuna-men-kesa-36924 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Himachal Pradesh Police, Shimla, Chopal, Caste Discrimination, SC ST Act, Untouchability

A serious case of caste-based prejudice and untouchability has emerged within the Himachal Pradesh Police ranks. A constable assigned to the Chopal police station in Shimla district has formally accused his senior colleague of humiliating him over his caste background and subjecting him to mental agony. Acting on the formal grievance, the police department has registered a case under relevant statutory provisions and launched a detailed inquiry.

## Interrogation Over Caste Identity on the First Day of Guard Duty
The complainant, Constable Rajesh Kumar, submitted a written complaint to the Station House Officer of Chopal, outlining the sequence of events. Kumar stated that he was assigned to the security guard team for Birendra Devi beginning on July 27. According to his account, Head Constable Rakesh Kumar, who was functioning as the guard in-charge, questioned him regarding his caste background on the very first day of their deployment together. Upon learning that the constable belonged to the Dalit community, the senior personnel immediately initiated discriminatory treatment.

## Invoking Deity Customs to Bar Access to Cooking Utensils
As documented in the official complaint, Head Constable Rakesh Kumar identified himself as a Gur of deity Mahasu. Citing this traditional religious role, the senior officer claimed that he was bound by strict taboos and rituals. He then instructed the Dalit constable not to handle or touch any food vessels or drinking water utensils in the guard room, warning that his deity would personally take notice if the boundary was breached. Being systematically segregated and barred from handling meals inside the shared duty quarters caused acute mental distress to the constable.

## Repetition of Discriminatory Conduct During Subsequent Deployments
According to Constable Rajesh Kumar, the exclusionary conduct was not an isolated episode. When he was posted again to the exact same security detail on September 11, the senior officer allegedly subjected him to similar caste-based bias. Two days later, on September 13, another incident of caste-linked indignity occurred in connection with meals, demonstrating a continuing pattern of discriminatory behavior within the unit.

## Video Evidence Cited as Police File Formal Charges
The complainant has stated that he captured video recordings of the encounters on his mobile phone, asserting that the footage contains admissions regarding the inquiry into his caste background. Following the submission of the complaint, the Chopal police registered a First Information Report under Section 3(1)(r) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Investigating officers have stated that a comprehensive probe into the matter is actively underway.

## What this means for you
This case highlights the strict legal framework and accountability surrounding caste bias and workplace equality within disciplined public forces.

- **Across India:** The enforcement of anti-discrimination legislation remains stringent across all government services and police forces. Any practice of untouchability or caste-based harassment exposes personnel to immediate criminal proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act.
- **In Himachal Pradesh:** The initiation of an FIR in the Chopal area of Shimla demonstrates that internal grievances within the state police force are being formally probed. This assures government employees across the state that institutional avenues exist to address workplace prejudice.
- **For Workplace Conduct:** Imposing restrictions on sharing food or utensils based on social hierarchy is completely unlawful in any official premises or guard quarters. Complainants facing such bias can seek legal remedies by submitting formal reports and relevant corroborating evidence.
- **Institutional Accountability:** Registration of criminal cases against serving personnel generally prompts departmental scrutiny alongside police investigations. This reinforces the requirement for uniformed staff to maintain constitutional standards of equality while on duty.

## Why this happened
The incident stems from allegations that a senior police officer subjected his subordinate to untouchability by invoking religious taboos and personal status as a deity medium.

- **Initial Inquiry Into Caste:** Friction began on the very first day of the security assignment when the guard in-charge inquired about the constable's caste background upon reporting for duty.
- **Invoking Religious Taboos:** The accused head constable cited his position as a Gur of deity Mahasu, arguing that customary rituals required him to maintain strict physical seclusion. On this basis, he explicitly ordered the subordinate not to touch food or drinking vessels.
- **Repeated Humiliation and Formal Complaint:** The discriminatory behavior allegedly recurred across multiple postings in July and September. After enduring repeated exclusion, the constable gathered digital evidence and approached the police leadership with a formal complaint.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which police station and district is this incident reported from?
The incident has been reported from the Chopal police station in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh.

### 2. Who are the complainant and the accused personnel in this case?
The complainant is Constable Rajesh Kumar, and the accused is Head Constable Rakesh Kumar.

### 3. Why was the constable barred from touching utensils in the guard room?
The accused head constable claimed to be a Gur of deity Mahasu requiring ritual avoidance, warning the Dalit constable not to handle dining or water vessels.

### 4. What assignment was the victim constable deployed on?
The victim constable had been deployed in the security guard detail for Birendra Devi starting on July 27.

### 5. Under which statutory provisions has the case been registered?
The case has been registered under Section 3(1)(r) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

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