New Delhi: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday assured that strict action will be taken against all the accused responsible for assaulting Scheduled Caste persons in Ahmednagar district. He said that no one has the right to take the law into their hands.


According to police, four Dalit men, among them two minors, were allegedly subjected to assault as they were hanged upside down from a tree and beaten with sticks by a group of six individuals on suspicion of stealing a goat and some pigeons in a village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district. 


Four persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident that took place on August 25.


Speaking on the incident, Pawar told reporters in Pune that no one has the right to take law into their hands and assured stringent action against those behind it.


"I got information that a case has been registered and the accused have been arrested," he said.


A case under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 364 (kidnapping) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been registered, the police said.


The disturbing incident, which came to light when a video of the assault surfaced on social media, has ignited widespread condemnation.


Union minister Ramdas Athawale condemned the incident and demanded strict action against all the accused.


Addressing a press conference, the RPI (A) president said it is a very serious issue and an unfortunate incident. "The RPI (A) condemns this incident. We demand strict action against those responsible."


The individuals responsible for the assault have been identified as Yuvraj Galande, Manoj Bodake, Pappu Parkhe, Deepak Gaikwad, Durgesh Vaidya, and Raju Borage, said an official.


The opposition Congress party had called the incident a "blot" on humanity and claimed that it was a dire consequence of the "hate" allegedly propagated by the BJP.


Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole had emphasised that the incident tarnished the essence of humanity.


"Such incidents are a result of hate being spread by BJP for its political gain," alleged Patole, voicing his criticism.


Mahesh Tapase, Nationalist Congress Party's chief spokesman, had also targetted the government for what he deemed as its inability to safeguard the dignity of Dalits.