Claims are being circulated on social media alleging that a youth named Raju was assaulted in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, after applying a tilak on his forehead at a Shani Dev temple. It is further alleged that upon revealing he was a Jatav (Dalit), he was beaten by people who mistook him for a Muslim. The viral claims are false and misleading. The real cause of the incident was alcohol consumption and alleged desecration of a religious idol, not caste or religious identity.
Accounts such as @bstvlivea and @INCUttarPradesh amplified the claim, stating:
“To escape the rain in Aligarh, a person sought shelter in a temple. There, he was asked about his religion. Upon hearing ‘Dalit,’ he was brutally beaten… His hand was broken, his eardrum torn… And the police, instead of protecting him, filed a case against him.”
Such posts framed the incident as caste-based violence under the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government and accused the administration of anti-Dalit bias.
Truth: Temple Fight Not About Religion or Caste
As this post went viral, it drew our attention. The D Intent Data Team starts the investigation immediately. We conduct reverse image search and fame by fame research with the help of Google Lens and did some keyword research. And we reach out to @aligarhpolice account who explained the full incident. According to police, the youth and another person consumed alcohol in the temple and disrespected an idol. A complaint was filed by the priest. Later, a video showed some locals assaulting them. Police are taking action on both sides—against the idol desecration and the assault. There is no caste or religion angle in the case.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) June 27, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: Claims are being circulated alleging that a youth named Raju was assaulted in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, after applying a tilak on his forehead at the Shani Dev temple. It is alleged that as soon as he said that he is a Jatav (Dalit), (1/3) pic.twitter.com/VIotKJ2Tut
Intent:
Political accounts and media are spreading a false narrative to provoke caste-based outrage and target the state government.
Conclusion:
Claim: Dalit youth beaten for tilak and caste identity
Fact: No such targeting. He was involved in idol desecration after drinking; police acted against both him and his attackers.
Related Article: Fact Check: Clash between Dalit communities Manjhi and Paswan over land dispute in Nawada, Bihar; casteist claims circulated
