Caste-related violence in India

Caste-related violence in India has occurred and continues to occur in various forms.

According to a 2007 report by Human Rights Watch:

inhuman, and degrading treatment of over 165 million people in India has been justified on the basis of caste. Caste is descent-based and hereditary in nature. It is a characteristic determined by one's birth into a particular caste, irrespective of the faith practiced by the individual. Caste denotes a traditional system of rigid social stratification into ranked groups defined by descent and occupation. Caste divisions in India dominate in housing, marriage, employment, and general social interaction-divisions that are reinforced through the practice and threat of social ostracism, economic boycotts, and physical violence.

Quoting about the atrocities committed by the land-holding communities against the 'Untouchables', author Dr. C. P. Yadav states that, "Atrocities are committed on the 'Untouchables' in the villages and small towns and the incidents of such cases are showing an upward trend. Atrocities are committed by the members of land holding Upper castes like Vanniyars and Thevars in Tamil Nadu; by Jats in Delhi NCR; by Reddys and Kammas in Andhra Pradesh; by Jats in Punjab; by Marathas and Kunbis in Maharashtra; by Jats in Haryana; by Bhumihars and Rajputs in Bihar; by Jats, Gujars, Ahir and Rajputs in Eastern Uttar Pradesh in a 2 part of Uttar Pradesh, by Jats and Gujars in Western Uttar Pradesh; by Ahir and Rajputs in Eastern Uttar Pradesh; by Jats in Rajasthan.

Scholars and human rights organizations have documented that a disproportionate share of caste-based violence is directed toward Dalit women, who face intersecting discrimination based on caste and gender. Reports note that Dalit women experience systemic stigma from birth, affecting multiple aspects of life including political participation, access to justice, and household labor. Human Rights Watch has further documented cases in which sexual violence against Dalit women has been used as a means of social control and intimidation by dominant caste groups. The 2020 Hathras gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh drew national and international attention to the persistence of such violence. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against Dalit women increased significantly in several states during the late 2010s, including a reported rise in Uttar Pradesh between 2016 and 2019.