Inquiry into caste branding on MP police aspirants

Photographs in various newspapers showed aspirants with “SC” (Scheduled Caste), “ST” (Scheduled Tribe) and “G” (General) marked with sketch pens on their chests as they queued up for their medical examination on Saturday, triggering a massive debate on social media. 

Dhar Superintendent of Police Virendra Singh said on Sunday that he had ordered an inquiry into the incident, to be conducted by a deputy SP rank officer. “The incident occurred yesterday when the District Medical Board was carrying out the medical examination of these candidates,” he said. 

Singh said those conducting the medical examination process had told police that the markings were made to tell apart candidates belonging to different categories as the physical requirements for each of these categories were different.  “However, they should have used other ways to differentiate. This is a serious matter,” the SP said.