A Dalit man in India’s state of Madhya Pradesh has filed a complaint with the police, alleging that a Hindu man from another caste smeared faeces on his face and body after accidentally touching him.

The Dalit man named Dashrath Ahirwar nominated a man named named Ramkripal Patel in his complaint. Patel belongs to the ‘Other Backward Castes’ considered higher than the Dalits in the Hindu hierarchy.

Ahirwar claimed that the incident happened while he was engaged in building a drain Bikaura village, in Chhatarpur district of Madhy Pradesh. He said that Patel was bathing at a nearby pump.

According to Ahirwar, he accidentally touched Patel with the grease he was using in the construction. In response, Patel filled the mug he was using for bathing with excretions lying in a nearby drain and smeared it on the Dalit’s face and head.

Ahirwar also claimed that he complained to a panchayat but was fined Rs600.

The police said that Ahirwar was ‘playing’ with others when he accidentally put grease on Patel’s hand. However, in contrast to Ahirwar’s version, the police said that the faeces were thrown on the Dalit man’s back.

Police added that both men are between 40 and 45 years old.

The case filed against Patel includes multiple sections including Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act.