Ambedkar Action Alert: Dalit family forced to leave village

Bringing to fore the cruel face of the khaps in the state again, a Dalit family in Amadalpur village of the district has been forced to leave the village and face social boycott over the inter-caste marriage of their son with a girl from the upper caste.

The family of Gulab Singh, who hails from the Balmiki community and works as a sweeper in the government school of the village, was forced to leave the village and take refuge at his sister's house in Radur village of the district after his son Arvind married Shikha, a girl from the upper caste Rajputs. The two eloped on July 7, following which trouble started for his family.

Speaking to The Tribune, Gulab Singh said after the two eloped, the sarpanch and other Rajputs started mounting pressure on them to find the two and get them back to the village. "As I could not find them, they asked me to sell my land in the village and leave."

Arvind's younger brother Amit said the panchayat which is dominated by men from the upper class, would ask his father to come alone and whenever he returned from the meetings, he had to be taken him a doctor as he had started having blood pressure problem.

"Finally, we decided to leave the village," Amit said.

Gulab Singh said even as he pleaded with the panchayat to let him stay in the village for at least one month so that he could sell his property, including a house and a plot, the sarpanch forbade him from selling the property to anyone from outside the village. He (sarpanch) ultimately prevailed upon him to sell all his property to him for a mere Rs 6 lakh, while the market price of the property is around Rs 25 lakh, he said.

Gulab Singh, who deterred from reporting the matter to the police for the fear of not being heard, said even if he had managed to stay back in the village, the family would not have been able to face the social boycott imposed upon them by the panchayat. "Therefore, I decided to take my younger son Amit, daughter and wife and shift to my sister's house. Now I travel more than 100 km each day to reach the school where I work and face a social boycott by the villagers who refuse to speak to me for fear of the khap," he said.

Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sangwan, when contacted, said he asked the officials concerned to conduct a probe into the episode and submit a report.

The Tribune

Cops blamed for death of victim's mother

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121019/haryana.htm#6

Bhanu P. Lohumi/TNS

Karnal, October 18

Reeling under threat to life, Dharampal, husband of deceased Dalit woman Kamlesh who raised her voice against the gang rape of her 15-year-old daughter, has blamed the police for his wife's death.

Kamlesh's body was found two days after September 3 when she went missing. Had the police acted "promptly and effectively," the crime could have been prevented, he lamented. Dharampal of Kalsi village said: "My wife had gone to Nilokheri to take medicine but did not return. I approached Bhutana police station which refused to file my complaint."

"When I again approached the police next day, ASI Ram Prakash wrote the complaint but some important facts were not incorporated," he stated.

He alleged Ram Prakash was related to Aman and Krishan - the main accused-- in his minor daughter's gang rape . Dharampal said the FIR was registered two hours before his wife's body was recovered from Sirsa on September 5 even though "I ran from pillar to post for justice and met senior police officers.

Dharampal, a labourer, said a senior police official visited him three days ago and assured that the accused would be arrested. Krishan, who had been evading arrest for the past one-and-a-half months was nabbed the very next day.

He blamed policemen Ram Prakash and Sanjeev Malik for his wife' murder as they did not file the complaint immediately and the accused gained time and killed his wife. Meanwhile, the victim and other five kids are in a state of trauma and self-imposed "house arrest".

Shashank Anand, SP, Karnal, said all three accused, Aman (18), Kusum and Krishan (35), had been arrested. Aman and Krishan have been booked for gang rape and murder while Kusum, who lured the minor to accompany the culprits, had been booked for abetting the crime.

The SP claimed Aman and Krishan had confessed to the crime but denied any hand in Kamlesh's murder.

The Times Of India

Dalits on fast: Health of five deteriorating

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Dalits-on-fast-Health-of-five-deteriorating/articleshow/16869749.cms

TNN | Oct 18, 2012, 11.18PM IST

RAJKOT: Situation at Surendranagar, where 11 dalits, including family members of three youths killed in police firing in Thangadh, are sitting on fast-unto-death is turning tense.

On Thursday, heavy police deployment was made in Surendranagar district collector office where dalits are sitting on fast to demand the immediate arrest of four policemen accused in the September 22 and 23 incidents.

Health of five persons is also deteriorating and Valji Rathod, father of Mehul (17), one of the victims of police firing, is said to have lost nearly nine kg since beginning of the fast on Monday.

The health of Jivabhai Chauhan (60) Devuben, Manjuben and Baluben is also deteriorating fast.

Despite hectic convincing by police and doctors, the family members are refusing to be hospitalized or take treatment.

Surendrangar superintendent of police Raghvendra Vats said, "We tried to convince, but they are ready to budge. Doctors have advised that they should be shifted to hospital immediately. If they don't agree, moving them forcibly will be the last option."

Sources said that all the ambulance, glucose bottles and oxygen has been kept ready the venue. But dalit community members say the situation may become tense if they are forcefully removed from the spot.

Indian Express

Ex-IPS officer slams Haryana for Dalit discrimination

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/exips-officer-slams-haryana-for-dalit-discrimination/1019027/

Express news service : Chandigarh, Fri Oct 19 2012, 03:21 hrs

Blaming the Haryana government for the increasing incidents of rape in the state, ex-IPS officer, R C Jowel on Thursday pointed out the discrimination against Dalits in the police and other government departments.

"In all rape cases that have been registered, victims belonged to Dalit families", he said, adding: "There is no IG DIG or any commissioner in the Haryana police department who belongs to the weaker sections of society. This is a clear example that the government is building up an indifferent attitude against Dalits. They are trying to curb our rights by hampering the modesty of our women."

"Jats and Dalits are the two major groups in Haryana. We have zero representation in the government," said Jowel.

He alleged that the government has not taken any steps to ensure the social security of the weaker sections of society in Haryana. He said, "I just want to convey that if the government will not take any steps to make the situation conducive for us, they might have to face dire consequences".

"We will take up self defense if the government will not provide us with security and in self defense we can even kill someone,"he added.

Suggesting measures to improve the conditions for Dalits, RC Jowel said, "There should be checking of challans by senior police officials who should then issue a report stating what they have found. In addition to that, the officers belonging to the weaker sections of the society should be give a fair chance of representation in the government offices."

Indian Express

Dalit killings: Cop seeks anticipatory bail

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-killings-cop-seeks-anticipatory-bail/1019025/

Express news service : Ahmedabad, Fri Oct 19 2012, 03:18 hrs

Thangadh police officer K P Jadeja, the main accused in the September 22-23 firing case in which three dalits were killed, has moved an anticipatory bail petition before a local court in Limbdi.

The application has been kept for hearing on October 20, said DSP P S Parmar who is investigating the case.

Meanwhile, the situation outside the Surendranagar collector office where five dalits are sitting on indefinite hunger strike demanding arrest of four accused police officials was reported to be tensed on Thursday night.

"Health of some of the people sitting on fast worsened following which authorities are trying to shift us all by force to hospital. We are demanding to get treatment for those whose condition has deteriorated at the spot," Valjibhai Rathod, who is also sitting on fast, told The Indian Express.

Till this report was filed, some dalit leaders were in discussion with district collector P H Shah over the issue amid heavy police bandobast outside his office.

Shah could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

The Hindustan Times

Caste-ing a shadow on Dalits' lives

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Patiala/Caste-ing-a-shadow-on-Dalits-lives/SP-Article1-946677.aspx

Sanjam Preet Singh, Hindustan Times

Sakohaan (Patiala), October 18, 2012

"We want to live a dignified life. Are we asking for too much?" asks Charanjit Kaur, 47, echoing the view of 50 Dalit families of Sakohaan villages (Nabha), 40 km from Patiala.
For the past 20 days, it has been an ordeal for them to keep the pot boiling. On September 27, a heavy police contingent, on the pretext of helping the panchayat install a water tank, cleared the 'shamlat deh' (village common land) of the baked cattle dung that Dalit families use for cooking purposes.

"An LPG cylinder has always been out of our reach. We have to make do with baked cattle dung. Now, we have been deprived of that as well," said Manjit Kaur, another villager.

Nabha subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Poonamdeep Kaur said the 9-kanal land in question was not being used for any purpose. When asked why a police contingent went to the village, she said it was a preventive measure taken to avoid any untoward incident.

The sarpanch, Bhupinderjeet Singh Sekhon, said, "Dalits are against the proposed water tank." When it was pointed out that each Dalit family had submitted Rs. 400 to the panchayat for the water tank, he said, "Some organisations have instigated villagers against the panchayat."

PAST INSTANCES

It is not for the first time that Sakohaan Dalits have been at the receiving end. About 25 years ago, they were asked to shift the spot being used for baking cattle dung as a gurdwara was to be constructed on the site. They complied because alternative land was provided. Seven years ago, it was the same story, with one difference: that time, a school was to come up.

In the present instance, Dalits confronted the panchayat, dominated by so-called upper-caste men, because they were not provided with alternative land. "There is ample land available with the panchayat for installing the water tank. The fact is they are eyeing the 'shamlat' land which we were using," said Narang Singh, a Dalit member of the panchayat.

THE ROOT CAUSE

Kesar Singh, 24, who has done a course in food and beverages from the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Nabha, offers an insight into the changing scenario. "Our fathers and grandfathers used to work as siris (bonded labour) for landlords (Jats). As we, the Scheduled Castes, who were once at the mercy of upper castes, have started getting education, we are now looking for jobs in other avenues. This decrease in economic dependence on landlords irks them and so they target our sources of livelihood."

His elder brother, Chamkaur Singh, is more direct. "Azad mulk hai. Asin kise di ghulami kyon kariye? (We live in an independent country. Why should we be slaves to anyone?)," he asserts.

STATUS QUO

On October 8, Dalits protested outside the mini secretariat in Nabha to press for their demands, including an alternative piece of land for baking cattle dung. Bowing to their pressure, the administration promised to meet their demands.

"The administration and the panchayat have passed a resolution to provide land to Dalits for baking dung," the SDM had said on the day of the protest. Later, the sarpanch backtracked. "How can the panchayat give land like this?" he told Hindustan Times. When SDM Poonamdeep Kaur was apprised of the sarpanch's stance, she said the administration would hold a meeting with the panchayat.

"The administration is delaying the matter. If this dilly-dallying continues, we will be forced to take to the streets again," said Beant Singh, state press secretary of the Punjab Students' Union, who is leading the agitation.

Business Standard

Odisha dalits seek NCSC's intervention

http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/odisha-dalits-seek-ncscs-intervention/69811/

Press Trust of India / Bhubaneswar October 18, 2012, 13:25

The Orissa State Schedule Caste-Scheduled Tribe Youth and Student Council have sought intervention of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste against politicians including Health minister Damodar Rout.

"It is seen that political persons like ministers, MPs and MLAs belonging to the present party in power in the state are involving themselves in heinous atrocity against SCs and STs," the Council said in a memorandum to NCSC.

Seeking NCSC chairman P L Punia's intervention, it alleged that besides health and family welfare minister Damodar Rout, cases have been lodged against senior BJD MLA Pradip Maharathy in the rape of a dalit girl at Pipili, former minister Pratap Kumar Jena and Rudra Madhav Ray, party MP from Kandhamal.

"These BJD leaders are named directly in cases of atrocity against scheduled caste people," said council president Haladhar Sethy who led a 35-member delegation to meet Punia in Delhi.

Senior BJD leaders, however, dismissed the allegations and said the law was taking its course in cases cited by the dalit leaders.

--
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.