Jaipur: Two Scheduled Caste youths in Bhilwara have filed a police complaint alleging they were forced to vacate chairs and sit on the ground during an Independence Day programme at a govt school in Bhilwara’s Bhakliya village.Police registered an FIR Monday and said they were investigating the allegations.One of the complainants, Rameshwarlal Bairwa, told TOI he and another SC community member were among five people seated on chairs at the school event. He said they had been welcomed before the programme began.“Suddenly, some people of the general and OBC communities said we could not sit beside them at the same level. They asked where they would sit if we occupied chairs and commented on our status in comparison to them,” Bairwa said.He alleged that during the argument, some attendees “forcibly made us get off chairs through intimidation and threats”.Bairwa said when they refused to leave the chairs, some attendees walked out of the venue without attending the Independence Day programme. He said the school administration tried to intervene, telling those present that everyone was equal and asking them to stop making such remarks.A faculty member, speaking to TOI on condition of anonymity, said all attendees were asked to sit and attend the programme and that “everyone is on the same level”.According to the FIR, members of another community also threatened to shut down the local Anganwadi centre, where two SC women work as Anganwadi workers and helpers.Bairwa said village residents would submit a memorandum to the Bagor tehsildar Tuesday, seeking action against those named in the complaint.
