India, Oct. 22 -- Two separate incidents of atrocities against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have triggered widespread outrage, with political parties slamming the BJP governments in both states for "failing to protect the dignity of marginalised communities."

In the first case, a 60-year-old Dalit man was allegedly forced to lick the ground near a temple on the outskirts of Lucknow after being accused of urinating there on Diwali evening.

Police said the accused, identified as Swami Kant alias "Pammu," has been arrested and booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

According to the complaint, the victim, Rampal Rawat, was drink...