On August 13, a village in North Karnataka’s Yadgir district has announced social boycott on 50 Dalit families after a 15-year-old minor Dalit girl’s parents refused to withdraws a POCSO complaint against a 23-year-old boy belongs to upper caste. The complaint was lodged in August month after a minor girl was allegedly impregnated by a 23-year-old man belonging to an upper caste of the same village near Hunasagi Taluk. The victim belongs to lower caste, the accused refused to marry her and threatened the family of victim not to disclose it.

Boycott calls, where about 250 Dalits residing in Bapparaga village’s two colonies have been denied access to grocery and stationary shops, temples and public spaces, shockingly even children cannot buy basic school supplies like pens and notebooks.

It was reported that when the girl’s family asked the boy to honour the word and marry her, the boy’s family reportedly rejected it. Then the girl’s parents filed a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Narayanapura police station on August 12. On August 13, the accused was arrested and remanded in judicial custody, reported the Times of India.

Resultantly, following the complaint, upper-caste members called the girl’s parents for negotiations. The victim’s parents refused the upper-caste members and decided to proceed with the POCSO case against the youth. Angered by this, the village’s upper-caste leaders imposed a social boycott on the Dalit community on August 13.

A village in #Karnataka‘s #Yadgir district has imposed social boycott on 50 Dalit families after a minor #Dalit girl’s parents refused to withdraw a sexual-assault case against a 23-year-old upper-caste boy after the duo’s relationship turned sour and she was found to be five… pic.twitter.com/91FpEqWK7K

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) September 14, 2024

However, police said that that the victim and the man were reportedly in a relationship and he allegedly sexually assaulted her on the pretext of marriage.

On September 14, in a significant development in this matter Narayanapura police has registered the FIR against 10 accused identified as Shankaragowda Mali Patil, Chandappa Tumbagi, Eranna Malipatil, Yallalinga Gowdar, Muddamma, Eerabai Devur, Bharatesh Hubli, Ashoka Mali, Bandeppa Dolli, and Shanthava Biradar. They have been charged under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as well as sections 351 (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). “All accused had fled the village soon after the FIR was registered. We have launched a search to apprehend them” said Yadgir deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Javed Inamdar, reported the Hindustan Times.

Ban imposed on Dalits, assault with Dalit man for entering temple: Bagalkot, Karnataka

A similar incident occurred in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district, in Ugalwanta village people from Lingayat and Caste Hindu communities have imposed a ban on Dalits from entering their localities after they brutally assaulted 28-year-old Dalit youth, Arjun Madar.

On September 10, Arjun was allegedly attacked, tied to and electric pole, and subjected to casteist abuse for attempting to pray at the Dyamavva temple. The victim filed a complaint before the Kerur Police Station. Following the complaint. The police have booked around 18 people including M Dyavanagounda Sathyannavar, Manjunath Mulimani and T Kamappa Talavar, belonging to Lingayat and other upper class.

According to report, Bagalkot SP Amarnath Reddy confirmed that a Dalit man was assaulted, abused and casteist remarks were made. He also confirmed that the announcement banning Dalits in those localities where people of forward castes reside, was made. He said that “We have filed an FIR against 18 people connected to the incident. It is true that Arjun, a Dalit, was assaulted by a group of upper caste people. He has mentioned in the complaint that he was tied to the electric pole. We are also verifying it as well.”

“There is no other untoward incident that has been reported post this incident in the village. The incident occurred on 10 September. An announcement was also made banning Dalits from entering the their areas. The announcement was meant to boycott a section of people. This is against the law.” Reported South First

In #Karnataka‘s #Bagalkot, people from #Lingayat and Caste Hindu communities have announced a ban on #Dalits from entering their localities after they brutally assaulted 28-year-old #Dalit, Arjun Madar at #Ugalwat village of #Badami.

On 10 September, Madar was allegedly… pic.twitter.com/ukBGHG3Cpa

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) September 15, 2024

However, Kerur Police arrested 6 people including a minor connected to the incident. The police are in search of the remaining 12 people, who have gone underground since the complaint was registered.

Dalit women tied to pole, thrashed for son’s inter-caste marriage

On September 10, in a shocking incident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, a 55-year-old mother allegedly tied to a tree and thrashed as her son had married a girl from another caste. The girl’s family, who belongs to the Backward Class Community had disapproved of her marriage to the lower caste boy.

According to reports, the son of K Govindamma, a resident of Kalakunta village of Pedda Kadubur Mandal in Kurnool district, had married a girl from a different caste in the same village. Govindamma, along with the newly married couple, left the village, anticipating backlash from the girl’s family. After staying out of the village for almost six months, Govindamma returned to Kalakunta a few days ago. Upon learning of her arrival, the girl’s family members and other relatives stormed to Govindamma’s house late on Thursday evening and dragged her onto the road. Later, they tied her to a tree and thrashed her, reported the Deccan Herald.

However, the incident came to light on Saturday, September 14, and the police have since registered a case. The severely injured woman was finally rescued by the police and she is now undergoing treatment at the government hospital at Yemmiganur, reported the Times of India.

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The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported atrocities and crimes against Scheduled Castes witnessed a 1.2% increase in 2021, totalling 50,900 cases, as compared to 50,291 in 2020. Uttar Pradesh emerged with the larger numbers of reported crimes, reporting the highest number of cases at 13,146, constituting 25.82% of the total incidents. Bihar reveals a significant 11.4% share, amounting to 5,842 cases, while other states like Rajasthan form about 14.7%, Madhya Pradesh 14.1% of the total crimes. What is worse is that combined cases from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar alone account for 37.22% of all reported atrocities against the community.

However, according to the Human Rights Watch, these alarming figures according to reports only scratch the surface, as it has been reported that Dalits are often apprehensive to report crimes, due to reported lack of police support. This suggests that the true extent of abuses against them is likely far higher.

Jehanabad, Bihar

In Jehanabad district in Bihar, a Dalit youth named Akash Kumar was prevented from going in a local temple. The matter escalated when Kumar voiced his protest, resulting in an alleged physical assault against him. The aggrieved party has lodged an FIR against two people, one of who is a member of the temple committee, namely Dayanand Keshari and his son.

According to The Mooknayak, the FIR has revealed that the duo not only prevented him from entering the temple but also subjected him to physical violence and employed derogatory caste-based language. The local law enforcement authorities have duly commenced an investigation into the case to ascertain the veracity of the claims.

While narrating the sequence of events, Akash Kumar stated that the incident transpired on a Friday, implicating Dayanand Keshari and his son in the purported assault. Subsequently, in response to Kumar’s FIR, law enforcement officials, led by Thana Adhyaksh Ajit Kumar, acknowledged the initiation of a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.

On the hand, the accused vehemently reject the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and fuelled by personal animosity. Dayanand Keshari, when confronted with the accusations, offered an alternative perspective, asserting that on the day of the incident, a group of youth, allegedly under the influence of intoxicants, were occupying the temple premises. Keshari claimed to have urged them to respect the sanctity of the temple, leading to heightened tensions and ultimately another individual to file a case against him. 

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

A harrowing incident unfolded in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain where three Dalit women were brutally assaulted by members of the Gurjar community. Shedding light on the episode, a police official revealed that the horrifying attack took place in a field, where the women were subjected to violence by people from the Gurjar community, the Jagaran has reported.

The shocking episode had garnered widespread attention after the video capturing the assault went viral on social media platforms. The victims have lodged a formal complaint at the local police station.

Bhim Singh Parihar, the officer in charge of the Makdon police station, has stated that the issue took place when goats owned by Gurjar community members encroached upon another person’s field. This led to an argument between the two parties which quickly turned into the assault.

The video that went viral shows three-four men ruthlessly wielding sticks against the women. The accused in the video have been Identified as Jagdish Gurjar, Ajay Gurjar, Hukum Singh Gurjar, and Badrilal Gurjar. A case has been registered against the accused under the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Authorities have confirmed that all the accused are currently at large. The police have stated that the victims have been taken to the district hospital for swift medical treatment and their condition is stable. 

Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Two Dalit prisoners at Sultanpur District Jail in Uttar Pradesh were found dead, hanged by bedsheets in their cells, according to The Mooknayak. The bodies of two Dalit prisoners, Kariya alias Vijay Pasi and Manoj Raidas, were recovered from the prison. They were accused in the murder of poultry farm owner Om Prakash Yadav and were discovered hanging in their barrack on June 21. The case was initially considered a case of suicide but recent magisterial investigation has revealed foul play. The jail officials had claimed that depression had led to suicides. However, contrary to jail officials’ claims of depression-induced suicides, the post-mortem report raised alarming questions. After investigating statements from the medical panel, the investigating officer has discovered that both prisoners had died of poison before June 21. The investigation further reveals that two had not had food for about 12 hours before their death.

The Mooknayak further reports that fellow inmates failed to corroborate the jail administrations’ narrative of suicide. The inmates stated that the victims were in good spirits and had engaged in normal, jovial conversation. Further investigation has revealed that the two had not had any bedsheet either, and raised the question how did they come upon the bedsheet with which they were found hanged.

Former IPS and National President of Adhikar Sena, Amitabh Thakur, has called for immediate FIRs against implicated officers. He has asked for a CID-CB investigation for the case to ensure accountability and fair investigation.

Bilgram, Uttar Pradesh

According to reports, a 42-year-old Dalit man was hacked to death in the Bilgram area of Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh. The assailant, identified as Guddu Rathore, allegedly hacked Saligram to death with a sharp-edged weapon. Locals state that the accused reportedly fled the spot the minute the incident took place. Police has detailed that the motivation for murder was a minor dispute between the two. The family has alleged it was because Guddu’s cattle strayed in Salgram’s area, however the matter had been reportedly sorted and resolved with intervention by locals. The police have initiated a case after the family lodged a complaint. The body has been sent for post mortem examination.

Kaimur, Bihar

Two young Dalit girls were beaten for plucking leaves from a farmer’s plant; one of them, Sundari Kumar from class 8 died of her injuries, according to the Deccan Herald. The gruesome episode has ignited tension in the area. The incident occurred in Hata village which falls under the Chainpur police station limits.

The victim Sundari was a 14-year-old Class 8 student who was with her cousin when she reportedly tried to pluck some gram leaves from a neighbouring farm. The farm’s owner Ramadhar Yadav, and his son Gaurav reportedly caught the girls following which the girls were beaten mercilessly with bamboo sticks. The police are currently searching for the four absconding individuals involved. A case has been registered against them.

Local CPI-ML leader Vijay Singh Yadav visited the grieving family and talked about the urgent need to arrest the culprits and also demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the victim’s family.

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The post Anti-Dalit incidents in December: 14-year-old killed for plucking gram leaves appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Kolar, Karnataka

On October 17, in Doddavalagamaadi, Bangarpet taluk, Kolar district, a 29-year-old Dalit construction worker was brutally beaten after being verbally abused by his employers because he had demanded his rightful wages. The victim is now recuperating at the hospital, according to Deccan Herald. The Bangarpet police have acted on the case and have invoked the Atrocities Act. Three of the accused are siblings from the Rajput community – Jagadish Singh, Ravi Singh, and Satish Singh have been named. Two of them, Jagadish Singh and Satish Singh have already been taken into custody, and attempts are being made to locate and look for and detain the third sibling, Ravi Singh. Kolar Deputy Superintendent of Police Mallesh has been assigned to lead the investigation.

According to the report by Deccan Herald, the victim had been hired by Jagadish Singh and his brothers for the construction of their new residence and they had agreed for his wages to amount to Rs 3,500, but when the time came, they had only paid him Rs 2,000. Following this the day of the incident he met the accused at a local roadside tea shop and asked payment of his outstanding dues. However, the response he received was in the form of a barrage of caste-based insults, humiliation and physical violence.

Amreli, Gujarat

A harrowing incident has come to light from a government school in Gujarat’s Amreli district. A Dalit school teacher lost his life to suicide after repeated instances of casteist abuse. The incident took place last Friday, on October 20th.

His name was Kanti Chauhan and he was reportedly a dedicated teacher at Juna Janjariya village in Bagasara. He recorded a video with his final words before attempting to kill himself. In the video, he revealed that the village’s Sarpanch had repeatedly threatened him, pressuring him to surrender the grants he had received and had even circulated defamatory messages against him and his caste across various social media groups.

The schoolteacher committed suicide by consuming poison while at the school. However, after he was taken to the hospital and was receiving treatment, he passed away. Villagers gathered the next day at the Bagasra police station demanding action against those mentioned in the video by Kanti Chauhan.

Local authorities have responded with the police filing a case against five individuals. The case includes the village Sarpanch and three school teachers, and following complaint, the Sarpanch was taken in custody. The case has been registered under Section 306 which pertains to abetment of suicide as well as with various sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, according to J. P. Bhandari, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Amreli.

Kuchaman, Rajasthan

Three arrests took place for the gang rape of a Dalit woman, according to The New Indian Express. The incident happened in August, however a formal case was registered only last week. The incident with the 32-year-old woman took place in the Kuchaman district of Rajasthan.

A case has been filed for gang rape and with certain sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. While the police have taken the 3 men, whose names are Kishore Mali, Ramdev Thalod, and Tejpal into custody, they are also reportedly actively searching for the two remaining suspects who are still at large.

Bengaluru, Karnataka

In a horrifying incident, the father of a teenaged minor was arrested for having murdered her. The 50 year old man had reportedly murdered his daughter because she had been involved in a relationship with a Dalit boy. The accused, who is a farmer, surrendered to the Bengaluru police October 22, 2023, according to the Indian Express. He had also reportedly coerced his daughter to leaving college and sending her to a relative’s house to prevent her from meeting the boy. However, the girl reportedly went missing by October 14, following which her parents arrived from Mysore to Bengaluru to search for her and then filed a report on October 18. The girl was soon discovered in a few days, and the Dalit youth was arrested with a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) filed against. However, the ordeal did not end there, the father soon attacked her and later she succumbed to her injuries. Her mother was also injured in the process of defending her. The accused is now in judicial custody.

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The post From Karnataka to Rajasthan, Dalit lives remain in danger appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The complaint states “Respected Sir, in addition to highlighting the instances of anti-Dalit atrocities above, we have also provided the status of the action taken by the police over them. Through this complaint, we are urging that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to closely monitor the case through the investigation and prosecution to ensure that substantive and exemplary justice is delivered.” 

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In the petition, CJP has highlighted the plight of Dalits living in India. While giving detailed accounts of the offences that have taken place in the country since July 2023. The complaint states that “These anti-Dalit incidents depict a manifestation of the troubling psyche that is behind caste discrimination, urgently requiring for an increase in conviction in cases of such kind.”

CJP has further emphasised the gravity of the situation and the need for providing protection to the families of the victims under the existing law to ensure that the perpetrators, most of whom belong to the dominant caste, are unable to further harass the family into withdrawing their complaint. The complaint underscores the provisions under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 which provide for protection to families of the victims. These sections are- Section 15 A (Rights of victims and witnesses) and Section 21 (Duty of Government to ensure effective implementation of the Act) of the SC/ST Act.

Pointing towards the blatant discrimination faced by Dalits, CJP wrote in its complaint, “The denial of basic human rights to Dalits is a grave concern. These incidents are a classic example of blatant discrimination and social prejudices against the Dalits. Their trauma and ignominy of the targeted crime is made worse by the hurdles in the access to justice.” Worrying statistics of increasing number of atrocities against Dalit since 2014 were also provided in the complaint to highlight the current caste oppressive environment in India, wherein people belonging to the dominant class have the power and audacity to act in an unlawful, exploitative and vicious way towards the Dalit community.

The details about these incidents may be read in the CJP complaint here:

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The post CJP moves NCSC against rising anti-Dalit incidents since July, provides detailed reports on 11 incidents appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Four Dalit boys were subjected to a horrifying assault as they were hung upside down from a tree and brutally thrashed on allegations of stealing goats and pigeons recently in Maharashtra. The incident took place in Haregaon, Srirampur tehsil of Ahmednagar district. The distressing videos of the incident have rapidly spread on various social media platforms. The video surfaced on Twitter on August 27, 2023. It has been reported that two of the four victims were minors.

Prominent political figures and activists have expressed their outrage and solidarity with the victims. Prakash Ambedkar, president of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, spoke to one of the victims and their grandmother, offered support and promised to ensure justice for the victims. Ambedkar condemned the incident as a manifestation of the troubling psyche that is behind caste discrimination and called for an increase in conviction in cases of such kind. He also called upon the CM of Maharashtra to take strict action, promising VBA rallying to the streets if they didn’t.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to recognize that such acts have occurred in the past in Maharashtra, exposing the troubling psyche behind caste discrimination and the lack of convictions in offences on SCs and STs.

My wife and I can only imagine what trauma the boys would have went…

— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) August 27, 2023

श्रीरामपूर, अहमदनगर येथील जातीय अत्याचारातील पीडित घाबरलेले आहेत. त्यांना न्याय हवाय.

मी त्यातल्या एका पीडित मुलाशी आणि त्याच्या आजीसोबत फोनवर बोललो. वंचित बहुजन आघाडी आणि मी स्वतः या प्रकरणात न्याय मिळवून देण्यासाठी सर्व काही करीन हे आश्वासन आजींना दिले आहे. pic.twitter.com/SiunZHFn4X

— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) August 27, 2023

NCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole also denounced the incident, highlighting the inhumane nature of the attack. Sule criticised the lack of fear of the law among criminals, and wrote about the need the need for severe punishment for the perpetrators. Patole also stated that certain political ideologies for fostering hatred and division in society, which l lead to incidents of this nature.

धक्कादायक! संतापजनक!
हरेगाव, जि. अहमदनगर येथील लहान मुलांना झाडांना टांगून मारहाण करण्याचा हा प्रकार अमानवी आहे. हा घडवून आणणाऱ्यांना किमान माणूसकीची देखील चाड नसावी हे अतिशय दुःखद आणि दुर्दैवी आहे. महाराष्ट्रासारख्या प्रागतिक विचारांच्या राज्यात अशी कामे होतात कारण गुन्हेगारी… pic.twitter.com/bAKdnbeTB6

— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) August 27, 2023

According to the New Indian Express, Maharashtra revenue minister and BJP MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has also visited the victims in the hospital, reassuring the public that a thorough investigation into the incident is underway. The incident has ignited calls for justice and drawn attention to the urgent need for addressing caste-based discrimination and violence in society.

According to ANI, the police have registered case against assaulters after a bandh was issued in protest. Ahmednagar ASP Swati Bhor says, “The incident occurred on 25 August. An FIR has been registered in this case on the complaint of one of the victims, Shubham Magde. The victims have alleged that they were thrashed badly. 6 people namely Yuvraj Galande, Manoj Bodke, Pappu Parakhe, Deepak Gaikwad, Durgesh Vaidya and Raju Borag, have been booked under Sections 307, 364 of IPC and Atrocity Act. One accused has been arrested and the police are on the lookout for the remaining five accused. Further investigation underway,” ANI reported earlier today.

Maharashtra | Four youths allegedly thrashed in a village in Ahmednagar district, following which one person arrested by police.

Ahmednagar ASP Swati Bhor says, “The incident occurred on 25 August. An FIR has been registered in this case on the complaint of one of the victims,… pic.twitter.com/8ZMFh6iBZu

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2023

the police took immediate steps and started the process of registering the case.A bandh was observed in Haregaon to protest against the incident.Police said statements of the concerned have been recorded. Necessary action will be taken after registering the case. @DGPMaharashtra

— Bharat Ghandat (@GhandatMangal) August 28, 2023

Jalna, Maharashtra

Last weekend, on the night of August 26th in Jawaskheda village, in Badnapur tehsil of Maharashtra’s Jalna district, a 25-year-old Dalit man named Siddharth Mandale was murdered. Allegedly suspected of stealing a two-wheeler, Siddharth Mandale was subjected to a fatal assault, resulting in his immediate death. The heart-wrenching incident has led to the subsequent arrest of four individuals on Sunday. These suspects have been identified as Akash Jadhav, Kailash Jadhav, Kundlik Tirkhe, and Tulsiram Gaikwad, all of whom are residents of Daregaon in Jalna tehsil.

The sequence of events unfolded with the accused capturing Siddharth Mandale after accusing him of stealing a two-wheeler. The situation took a horrifying turn as he was brutally beaten by the group and then callously thrown into a quarry, leading to his tragic demise. In response to this horrifying incident, authorities have taken action by registering a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 302 (Punishment for murder), and invoking the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

Another disturbing incident that occurred on 24th August in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, a young Dalit man was mercilessly beaten to death by a group of assailants wielding sticks and batons. The family revealed that the assailants had been pressuring them relentlessly, and had even threatened murder, to withdraw a four-year-old police case involving sexual harassment, which had been filed by the murdered youth’s sister. The victim allegedly refused to withdraw the case following which the goons came to his home, vandalised his house and beat him. The family of the victim have stated that the accused would engage in harassing the victim’s sister while she would walk to her school. The mother has alleged that her son was beaten in front of her own eyes and when she tried to defend him from the assailants, she was also attacked and the men attempted to disrobe her, said the Khurai police-station in charge to Hindustan Times. The family has also alleged that since the ‘Thakur family’ has members who are Sarpanch, and Parshad, and are well off too – the police did not listen to the victim’s family.

Images circulating on social media purportedly showed the accused individuals posing alongside a senior Minister of the BJP government in the State. According to the Additional SP Sanjeev Uike, reports the Times of India, “A case has been filed against nine individuals, including the main accused under Section 307. After the death of the victim at the hospital, Section 302 and the SC/ST Act were also applied.”

The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of transforming Madhya Pradesh into a harrowing “laboratory of atrocities” against Dalits.

मध्य प्रदेश के सागर ज़िले में एक दलित युवक की पीट-पीट कर हत्या कर दी गई। गुंडों ने उसकी मॉं को भी नहीं बख़्शा।

सागर में संत रविदास मंदिर बनवाने का ढोंग रचने वाले प्रधानमंत्री जी मध्य प्रदेश में लगातार होते दलित व आदिवासी उत्पीड़न एवं अन्याय पर चूँ तक नहीं करते। मध्यप्रदेश के…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 27, 2023

BSP Supremo Mayawati has also taken to her X account, formerly Twitter, to comment on atrocities, calling BJP two-faced.

1. मध्यप्रदेश के सागर जिले में जहाँ अभी हाल ही में पीएम श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी ने संतगुरु रविदास जी का स्मारक बनाने की नींव बड़े तामझाम से रखी, वहीे उसी क्षेत्र में उनके भक्तों के साथ जुल्म-ज्यादती चरम सीमा पर है, जो भाजपा व उनकी सरकार के दोहरे चरित्र का जीता-जागता प्रमाण है।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) August 26, 2023

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The post No country for Dalits: brutal incidents of violence against Dalits in the last week of August appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Even today, a Dalit groom is not “allowed” to ride a horse to his own wedding, a practice which has somehow been appropriated by men of the privileged castes, even daring to do so can invite violence and abuse. Worse a thumb can be chopped off or a murder committed on grounds of casteist violence.

Dalit man’s thumb cut off for touching cricket ball:

In another such disturbing and horrendous incident, reported on June 4 from Gujarat’s Patan district, a group of people allegedly assaulted a Dalit man and chopped off his thumb after his nephew picked up a cricket ball during a match at a school playground. The incident took place in Kakoshi village in the district, as reported by the New Indian Express.

A police official has provided that an FIR has been filed in the said case, according to which the accused got angry and threatened the boy who had picked up the ball while watching a cricket match at a school playground in the village. They also allegedly hurled casteist slurs with the intention to insult and intimidate members of the Dalit community, the official further said.

The official added that when the boy’s uncle Dhiraj Parmar objected to this, the matter was settled for the time being, however, later that evening, a group of seven men armed with sharp weapons assaulted the complainant Dhiraj and his brother Kirti. It was then that one of the accused chopped off Kirti’s thumb and injured him seriously.

It has been provided that the FIR has been registered under sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons), 506 (criminal intimidation) and other relevant provisions of the IPC and the SC/ST Act. As per the police official, efforts are on to apprehend the accused.

Dalit man murdered for non-repayment of loan

In Renapur area of Maharashtra,s Latur district, the non-repayment of a mere Rs. 3,000 by a Dalit man resulted in him facing abuse and death. As per the report published by the Print, a 48-year-old Dalit man was allegedly murdered by a money-lender after throwing chili powder in his eyes for defaulting on payment of interest on a loan. As per the information provided, Giridhar Tabkale, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste, had borrowed Rs 3,000 from money lender Laxman Markand. Tabkale was allegedly attacked by Markand and his relative Prashant Waghmode again on June 2. They allegedly threw chili powder in his eyes before hitting him with a steel rod, causing him serious injuries on the chest and legs, the police official told the Print. Tabkale had died during treatment in the early hours of June 3.

It was also reported that Tabkale and Markand had had a fight over the issue of payment of interest previously too, on May 23, but the local police allegedly did not register a case. As per the information provided by the police, the accused persons have been arrested on the charge of murder and also under the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and further probe is on.

Dalit man killed for celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti:

It seems that the brute anger of the privileged castes is not limited to the Dalit community performing acts which were historically “performed only by the upper caste”, but any celebration by the Dalit community is not tolerated by the upper caste.

On June 1, during the evening hours, a 24-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death at Bondhar Haveli village in Maharashtra’s Nanded district by nine men as they were angry at him for celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti in the village in April this year. The deceased was identified as Akshay Bhalerao, who lived with his family at the village.

As per the report by the Indian Express, an FIR was registered by the Nanded police on June 2. Shrikrushna Kokate, Superintendent of Police (Nanded), provided that a case of murder, attempt to murder, rioting and assault under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered, and seven persons have been arrested. The officer further provided that the accused have also been booked under relevant sections of the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It has been provided that Sections 3 (1) (R), 3 (1) (S), 3 (2) (VA) of SC/ST Act have been invoked in addition to sections 4, 25 and 27 of Arms Act.

Aakash, the elder brother of the deceased Akshay, narrated the whole incident in statement to the police and stated that, “A person named Narayan Tidke, who belongs to the Maratha community, had gotten married. A group of people was celebrating on the road (on Thursday evening). They were dancing with swords, daggers and sticks in their hands. At around 7.30 pm, when my younger brother and I went to a shop to buy groceries, the group started passing comments against them”, the statement alleged.

The statement further provided that “One of them said that ‘these people should be killed for celebrating Bhim Jayanti in the village’. The group then started beating my brother. They assaulted my brother with sticks. At one point, they held my brother’s hands and legs, then two of the accused stabbed him in his stomach.”  Aakash provided in his complaint that when he tried to intervene, they allegedly stabbed him too.

“Aakash also sustained injuries on his left hand. Their mother who tried to save them was also injured in the attack as the accused started pelting stones on them,” their elder brother Sandesh said. Aakash further provided that after the attack, he rushed Akshay to a nearby hospital in a rickshaw, but Akshay had stopped breathing on the way. The police had also stated that Akshay was declared dead before he could be admitted to hospital.

While an officer from Nanded Rural police station has said that the preliminary probe indicated “caste conflict” that led to the murder, it seems as a case of caste based violence over Dalit celebrating their identity, claiming their space and rights. The fact that Dalits tend to speak out more and be more visible is what can be understood as a reason behind these violent confrontations.

Stones pelted on Dalit groom

Only two days ago, on June 6, such an incident was reported from Chhattarpur area of Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, where stones were pelted at a Dalit man riding a horse on the occasion of his wedding. A video has surfaced on the social media showing how police was present in the arena while the Dalit man was riding the horse. When Dalit grooms take to horses, something that the traditional elites see as their prerogative, it inspires not just resentment but also often, a violent backlashe.

The video can be viewed here:

मध्यप्रदेश : बुंदेलखंड में दलित दूल्हे के घोड़ी चढ़ने पर जातिवादियों का बवाल, बारात पर की पत्थरबाजी@ChouhanShivraj @CMMadhyaPradesh @MPPoliceOnline pic.twitter.com/3zIYoQT2d9

— Dalit Times | दलित टाइम्स (@DalitTime) June 6, 2023

 Dalit man thrashed for wearing “good” clothes:

The situation has become so dire that Dalit people are lynched and killed by men from privileged castes for wearing good clothes. According to an incident reported from the Mota village in Palanpur taluka of the Banaskantha district of Gujarat, a group of upper caste people allegedly beat up a Dalit man named Jigar Shekhalia for wearing good clothes and sunglasses, said the police. On May 30, during the night hours, Jigar was beaten up for “wearing good clothes and sunglasses”, as has been reported by the ABP news.  Police said that the victim and his mother, who was also assaulted by the group, were sent to a hospital for treatment.

It has been alleged by Jigar that the accused men involved in the incident of beating him and his mother were upset with him for wearing good clothes and goggles. According to the complaint copy, one of the seven accused approached the victim when he was standing outside his house in the morning hours of the day this crime was committed. Narrating the incident, Jigar provided that the accused started abusing him as well as threatening to kill him. The accused said that he was “flying too high these days”, as reported by the PTI.

The complainant also stated that on the same night the incident took place, six accused from the community with Rajput surnames came towards him as the complainant was standing outside a village temple. He purported that the accused were all armed with sticks and asked him why he was dressed up and wore sunglasses. Subsequently, they started thrashing and dragging him behind a dairy parlour.

The complainant added that when his mother came to save him, the accused people also started attacking her. After tearing the mother’s clothes, they later threatened to kill her, said the police as reported by PTI.

It was provided by the police that an FIR was filed against seven persons on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim Jigar at the Gadh police station, reported PTI. IPC provisions pertaining to rioting, unlawful assembly, outraging the modesty of a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, using abusive language, etc. have been invoked in the FIR. Furthermore, relevant sections of SC/ST Act have also been invoked. However, the police has informed that no arrest has been made in connection with the incident so far.

The post can be viewed here:

मामला गुजरात का है!

कुछ लोगों ने एक दलित व्यक्ति को अच्छे कपड़े व काला चश्मा पहनने की वजह से पीट दिया!

बेटे को पीटता देख जब मां बचाने गई तो उन लोगो ने मां को भी पीटा!

दबंगों ने दलित युवक से कहा– “अगर रुतबा बढ़ाने की कोशिश की तो जान से मार देंगे”

पीड़ित व्यक्ति ने 7 लोगों पर… pic.twitter.com/ODqRNpUj9u

— Sadaf Afreen صدف (@s_afreen7) June 3, 2023

Conclusion

Dalits have faced caste-based prejudice and oppression for generations. Caste discrimination is now so thoroughly embedded in Indian society that it has resulted in widespread exclusion, marginalization, and violence against the Dalit minority. This discrimination impacts all aspects of Dalit life, including education, housing and employment. The surge in crimes against Dalits in India is cause for alarm, indicating that the country still has a deep-seated social and cultural bias, where even the wearing of “good” clothes is a matter dictate by caste privilege.

Related:

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CPI-M team headed by Brinda Karat meets Dalit family: 16-year old daughter killed two days ago

UP: SHO suspended after delay in investigation of minor Dalit girl’s rape

March 2023 Round up of attacks on Dalits

How long will Dalits and Adivasis students succumb to violent caste discrimination before effective measures are created?

Dalit MBBS female intern allegedly died by suicide due to caste discrimination

Dalit Sanitation Worker Dies by Suicide in Gram Panchayat Office in Telangana

Courts say, calling a person by caste name is not an offence: Explained

The post Caste abuse on Dalits: murder, thumb chopped off, not allowed to “good” clothes, touch cricket ball or ride a horse! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 “You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole.”– Dr BR Ambedkar

These words Dr Ambedkar wrote in 1936 are a part of the book called “annihilation of caste”, and more than 8 decades later, these words are, unfortunately, still relevant. This is, albeit, just one of the many thoughts and words of Babasaheb which remain relevant as the caste system persists and the discrimination still thrives.

We present a round up of acts of violence and inherent discrimination against Dalits reported from different parts of the country, in the month of March.

Dalit homes burnt for dancing in procession

On March 5, an incident was reported from Karnataka where two homes belonging to Dalit were set ablaze by villagers as they were opposed to Dalit children dancing in the village fair procession. A village fair was being held at Nandihalli village in Haveri district when some children and youth from Dalit community started dancing in the procession. A section of villagers opposed this saying that they had contributed money for the fair and that Dalits should not take part in it. What followed was an altercation and later that night when 12 members of the family were sleeping in two houses next to each other, a group of villagers threw logs of wood and poured petrol and set the house on fire hoping the fire would spread to the other house as well.

Attacked for playing Dalit liberation song

A twitter account called @HateDetector posted a video on March 8 showing a family seated in a vehicle being harassed by some men and the men then enter the vehicle and mercilessly thrashing the young boy, giving him repeated blows. This incident allegedly took place in Bhuvanagari, Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. The people in the video appear to be speaking in Tamil, hence it is difficult to certainly verify what prompted the attack. However, it is alleged by Hate Detector that the Dalit family was ruthlessly assaulted by Vanniyar caste men when the former was returning from a pilgrimage, as they were apparently playing a song about Dalit liberation from a movie featuring well known Tamil actor Dhanush. While thrashing the Dalits, the Vanniyar men hurled caste slurs as well.

Reportedly, the police intervened after some time and were taking the Dalit to the Hospital and on their way to the hospital as well, the vehicle was stopped by some other Vanniyar men and the group of Dalits was beaten up again.

The song is from a #Dhanush movie which is about #Dalit liberation. The Vanniyar men used caste slurs & abused the #Dalits & started thrashing them.

After sometime there was police intervention & seriously hurt Dalits were transported to a nearby hospital by an ambulance. pic.twitter.com/IeDAgEDTqu

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) March 8, 2023

In Basti, Uttar Pradesh a video erupted on March 9 where, as per the account of the Dalit victims, they were beaten up by privileged caste men as they were out to buy groceries and were being threatened and not allowed to enter the village.

Dalits who went to buy grocery beaten by goons in #Basti, #UttarPradesh.#Dalits #Casteism pic.twitter.com/LfFB8QOYSF

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) March 9, 2023

On March 9, a Dalit MBBS intern working at the SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Science and Research in Amritsar, Punjab, allegedly facing caste discrimination, died by suicide. Her mother, Kamlesh Rani filed an FIR at the local police station in Vallah while alleging that her daughter, Pompesh, was subjected to discrimination and casteist slurs by her colleagues and two professors as well.

On March 13, a Dalit sanitation worker allegedly died by suicide in gram panchayat office in Bibipet Mandal, Kamareddy district of Telangana due to the non-payment of his salary since past after 4 months. Families of as many as 12 sanitation workers who have died since 2020, did not receive due compensation for their kin, reported the Times of India on March 26, 2022.

Minor boys beaten by Police for playing DJ music

On March 14, A shocking incident of being oppressed by the protector came to light in Aurangabad, Bihar as minor Dalit boys were beaten up by the police for playing DJ music during Holi celebration. The women then sat on an indefinite Dharna against this abhorrent act. This incident took place in Bantara village of Devkund police station in Aurangabad. The women sitting in protest demanded that the police officer, Subodh Kumar Singh, be suspended. The women, interviewed by NavBharat Times said they were going to indefinitely sit there on a hunger protest. They also claimed that false cases were filed against them. They also claimed that the women who went to save the children from the beatings were also beaten up by the police and false cases filed against them. A five-member delegation of CPI joined the dharna and supported the Dalits, reported NBT.

Dalit family attacked over land dispute

On March 18, an incident surfaced from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, when a Dalit family was attacked by “upper-caste” Thakur men after the former wanted to take possession of their disputed farmland in Kalva village. It is being alleged that the Thakur family wanted to snatch the land, and had attacked the Dalit family during wheat harvesting. Seven members, including women and children, were seriously injured, and one died as a result of those injuries.

Minor beaten for drinking from common bucket

On March 20, a Dalit boy was allegedly beaten up by his school teacher, Shashi Yadav in Jalaun, UP, for drinking water from a common bucket. Yadav allegedly locked the boy inside a room and physically assaulted him so severely that his nose began to bleed profusely. Ankush’s mother also alleged in the police report that the teacher’s actions were driven by her casteist mindset. When she confronted the teacher about this issue, the latter remained defiant and even threatened to ruin Ankush’s future by striking his name off the school rolls. 

On March 22, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani claimed that in last 24 hours, 4 incidents of Dalit atrocities had come to light including w incidents of death of Dalits while cleaning sewers in Rajkot; Alleged rape of a Dalit girl in Mahisagar and a Dalit being beaten up by local goons. These pieces of news, however, could not be verified.

In last 24 hours, Gujarat has witnessed atleast four cases of dalit atrocities.
Two People died of sewer cleaning in Rajkot.
One young girl was allegedly raped & killed in Mahisagar dist.
This is another video where a dalit is being beaten by local goons.

Amrit Kaal ? pic.twitter.com/HB9plTRcOR

— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) March 22, 2023

On March 23, in Uttarakhand’s Someshwar, Almora district, Dalit women were stopped from entering a temple. A girl said they were told that “If their parents were not allowed to visit the temple, how can you visit it”. A local news channel reported this incident where they interviewed the girls. The girls said that they were stopped by saying that the temple is not for Dalits. One of  the girls said that they entered bigger temples elsewhere and nobody had stopped them. “The god is same in all temples then why are we being stopped?,” one girl posed the question. Another woman said, “ they think just because our previous generation remained silent and bore such discrimination, they thought we will too.” They said such people should be taught a lesson and that they want justice.

In #Uttarakhand‘s #Almora, #Dalit daughters were stopped from going into a temple.

A girl said they were told that “If their parents were not allowed to visit the temple, how can you visit it”.#Dalits #Casteism #DalitLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/8BOnKzuaRA

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) March 23, 2023

Dalit activist heckled for raising caste issues

Dalit writer and activist, Shalin Maria Lawrence has been facing repeated targeted harassment on Twitter as well as Facebook over the past year, specifically from handles associated with the DMK, ruling party in Tamil Nadu and the BJP, ruling party in Union. Shalin has used social media to raise awareness of caste-related atrocities in Tamil Nadu, especially those that might not find a mention in regional media.

Dalit beaten over allegation of cow slaughter

It was reported on March 27, that a Dalit youth mistaken to be from Muslim community was beaten up by extremists over allegations of cow slaughter in Bargaon Village of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Dalit youth mistaken to be #Muslim beaten by extremists over allegations of cow slaughter in #Bargaon Village of #Saharanpur district in #UttarPradesh.pic.twitter.com/xssode7JjC

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) March 26, 2023

Dalit man tonsured, face blackened

In UP’s Brahmpuri, Meerut, a shameful incident of a Dalit youth, Lakhan being tonsured amidst a crowd came up on March 27. His face was visibly blackened and was surrounded by a group of people who were also thrashing him. Some women can also be seen hitting him with their sandals. The hands of the man were also tied. He was being kicked and thrashed repeatedly.  Meerut police confirmed that it was a dispute between two families and 4 people were arrested in this matter and further investigation is being carried out.

#Horrible In UP’s Meerut, A Dalit youth Lakhan’s Hand and feet tied to the tree and his face was blackened and then made bald in front of the crowd. During this, a garland of shoes and slippers was also put around his neck… pic.twitter.com/HOllJEYxta

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) March 27, 2023

Related:

How long will Dalits and Adivasis students succumb to violent caste discrimination before effective measures are created?

Dalit MBBS female intern allegedly died by suicide due to caste discrimination

Dalit Sanitation Worker Dies by Suicide in Gram Panchayat Office in Telangana

Courts say, calling a person by caste name is not an offence: Explained

The post March 2023 Round up of attacks on Dalits appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On the eve of the 75th Anniversary of Independence in August, a nine-year-old Dalit boy died from injuries suffered weeks earlier. The boy, a student of class 3 in Jalore district of Rajasthan, was severely beaten by his teacher for allegedly touching a water pot. In September, a 15-year-old boy in UP’s Auriya district similarly died after his teacher beat him up for making a mistake in his test. A few days later, two Dalit sisters from a village in Lakhimpur Kheri of UP were raped and murdered, their bodies left hanging from a tree. This series of atrocities hit the media headlines, shocking the country and beyond. Culprits were arrested, compensation announced and outrage registered duly by one and all.

But such incidents are a fraction of the violence and oppression that Dalits continue to suffer in India, which is claimed to be entering the Amrit Kaal – starting from the 75th Anniversary of Independence and going up to the centenary in 2047. Since 1991, from when the data is available, over 7 lakh atrocities have been officially recorded by the police. That is about five every hour. And these are just the officially registered cases. A large number of cases routinely go unregistered because of the connections of higher caste culprits and survivors being in fear of the perpetrators.

Some States Showing Increasing Violence

In the last three years, from 2019 to 2021, the country saw an 11% increase in atrocities against Dalits. Recorded cases rose from 45,961 in 2019 to 50,900 in 2021, according to the latest available data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The increase is driven by enormous spikes in this violence (and their registration) in a clutch of states. The chart below shows the data for states with a higher percentage increase in anti-dalit atrocities than the national average.

As can be seen, the entire northern Indian belt – barring Bihar – has shown a spike in atrocities that is higher than the national average. In Bihar (not shown in the chart), as also in neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, the number of registered atrocities declined.

It is noticeable that almost all Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states are exhibiting a larger-than-average increase, the exception being Gujarat. Such states include Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. But several Opposition-governed states like Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra (led by an Opposition alliance in the period covered) also figure in this list.

While the upper caste-oriented ideology of the Sangh Parivar, including the BJP, can be presumed to contribute to this worrisome situation, it needs to be stressed that caste oppression is systemic and weaved in the fabric of Indian society. It may get aggravated because of government negligence or even connivance, but the state machinery itself is significantly influenced by upper caste biases. On the other hand, Dalit communities are primarily poor, landless, labouring sections, which have been stigmatised and marginalised for centuries, without the wherewithal to resist oppression. Even political empowerment – like having elected representatives – has not done much to restrain the stranglehold of caste oppression.

Violence in Relation to Dalit Population

A different dimension of the issue is revealed if one looks at the crime rate, that is, the number of crimes per 1 lakh population of Scheduled Castes (Dalits) in a particular state. This measure is meaningful because the Dalit population varies widely across states; hence comparing the number of atrocities is often misleading. States with a higher Dalit population may have a higher number of cases, which makes its comparison with a state with a small Dalit population untenable.

The chart below shows the crime rate for atrocities against Dalits in states with over 40 lakh Dalit population and higher than the country-wide average crime rate of about 25 cases of atrocities per lakh of Dalit population.

As can be seen, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are again the two states with the highest crime rates, almost two and a half times the national average. Other states in this list include Bihar, Telangana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana (all above 30), and Gujarat (just below 30, at 29.5). Notable states with a relatively high Dalit population but not so high rates of crimes against Dalits include West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Strikingly, the northern belt of states is again featured in this – showing that they are the states with noticeably higher rates of crimes against Dalits.

What are Dominant Political Parties Doing?

It is strange that the oppression of Dalits continues unabated and across the board despite all the talk of Dalit empowerment by dominant parties like the BJP and Congress, as also state-level strong parties like the Samajwadi Party or the Biju Janata Dal, or even the Bahujan Samaj Party that claims to represent the interests of the Dalit population.

While strengthening laws, and their diligent and unbiased implementation through the police and courts are necessary steps to be taken at the administrative levels, the situation calls for a much more extensive change in the social and economic realms. Only through such measures – like land to the Dalit landless, jobs, education, housing, and medical care – can the material basis for their empowerment be laid. This, of course, needs to be accompanied by a sweeping social campaign to break the practice of discrimination and violence.

The dominant political parties, and their multiple affiliates, especially the RSS-BJP cohort, need to be asked why they have not undertaken such a course until now, despite claiming to be electoral and socio-cultural leaders of a large population segment.

Courtesy: Newsclick

The post India Enters ‘Amrit Kaal’ with Growing Atrocities Against Dalits appeared first on SabrangIndia.