India, Aug. 18 -- Two Dalit men have alleged that they were forced to leave their chairs and sit on the floor during an Independence Day programme at a government school in Bhakliya village of Rajasthan's Bhilwara district. Police have registered an FIR following their complaint, while an education department inquiry is also underway.

The two men, Rameshwarlal Bairwa, 35, and Gopilal Bairwa, 37, had been invited as guests for the August 15 programme, according to media reports. They said they were sitting on chairs when some people objected to their seating and allegedly asked them to sit on the floor. They also alleged that caste-based slurs were used against them.

The complainants further alleged that they were threatened with the clo...