In another incident of caste atrocity against Dalits in India, it was reported that some persons from the ‘upper caste’ Thakur community in Nahargarh, Ujjain allegedly beat up an elderly person from the Dalit community because he had refused to give Rs. 50 as monetary contribution for a religious event. Independent journalist Himanshu Pandit who broke the story on Facebook said that the aged person from the Dalit community refused to contribute saying that though the upper caste took their money, they never offered prasad (a devotional offering) to the Dalits. This reportedly angered the Thakurs and they allegedly mercilessly beat up the elderly man. Even people who came to his rescue, including women, were assaulted with sticks, axes, swords and other weapons Pandit reported. It was also said that the Thakurs allegedly threatened to kill the members of the Dalit community if they asked for prasad again.
The victims also told Pandit that the ‘upper caste’ members forcefully made Dalits work in fields but never provided wages. Whoever objected to this or refused to work without pay was beaten up. The victims alleged that women and girls were also threatened with sexual assault by members of the ‘upper caste’.
Pandit reported that the accused, chief of the village (sarpanch) and the area police officer were apparently related and hence, the accused would always stay protected from being questioned. Even if a complaint was registered, the accused would be booked under minor charges. In this matter, Additional SP Amrendra Singh assured that the accused; Chain Singh, Sultan Singh, Vikram Singh, Jeevan Singh and Narayan Singh, would be booked under relevant charges, Pandit reported. However, Pandit said that the FIR wasn’t registered as per the details provided by the complainant.
The accused have been booked under Section 294 (Obscene acts and song), Section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), Section 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), Section 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Pandit also reported that if the accused isn’t booked and apprehended under the relevant charges within 5 days, the villagers will protest at the police station. This is a developing story. After the incident, the police had said that they would provide protection to the villagers and Pandit will soon be visiting the village to see if the police have fulfilled their promises.
Caste atrocities in India have continued unabated despite the lockdown. The CPI (M) said that during the lockdown, in Tamil Nadu itself there were 81 cases of caste-related atrocities reported against Dalits, The Hindu reported. Throughout history, Dalits have faced social exclusion and have been subjected to physical assaults. The disparity has become even more glaring during the lockdown. A media report by The Siasat Daily in May said that a Dalit couple in Madhya Pradesh was quarantined inside a toilet and not even given food for sustenance.
Dalits, who are now fighting for equal rights and higher wages and dignified work opportunities, have been historically oppressed, thus reducing their opportunities to earn a decent income. According to Wealth Inequality, Class and Caste in India, 1961-2012 report by Nitin Kumar Bharti (2018) India’s Brahmin community alone monopolizes 48 percent of national income which is above the national average income and other upper caste communities secure 45 percent. Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC together earn far less than the national average household income.
The images of the incident and the FIR may be viewed below.
Photo courtesy – Himanshu Pandit
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