Dalit family seeks fresh probe into mysterious death of woman
Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 07.07.14
Dalit family seeks fresh probe into mysterious death of woman- The Hindu
Village Chief Booked for Caste Clash - The New Indian Express
Man arrested- The Hindu
NHRC Notice to State on Dalit Youth Torture Case - The New Indian Express
Crime against dalits biggest challenge for Bihar CM- Hindustan Times
Four Injured, 10 Booked in 2 Different Group Clashes - The New Indian Express
Committee to check for misuse of Bhoodan land- Deccan Chronicle
Probe auction of Dalit land: SC panel- The Tribune
The Hindu
Dalit family seeks fresh probe into mysterious death of woman
The mysterious death of a young Dalit woman in a far-off village of Jodhpur has forced her in-laws’ family to sit on a dharna outside the Collectorate since May 28seeking a re-investigation into the case.
The woman’s father-in-law Tejaram runs between police stations and court, while his wife and two children — both of whom are mentally unstable — wait endlessly.
Life, probably, was never easy for Tejaram’s 21-year-old daughter-in-law whose burnt body was found in a jungle near Dediya village on February 10. But it became even worse for the family after her death under suspicious circumstances. The police arrested Tejaram and his son, Omaram, on charges of dowry death based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s parents. Police registered a case because Omaram and his wife had been married for only three years. While Tejaram was kept in a lock-up illegally and released on judicial intervention, Omaram is still in jail facing trial.
Tejaram and his family have a different story to tell. In a petition before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), filed on their behalf by Dalit Adhikar Network, they alleged that the victim was being sexually exploited by three upper caste men living near Tejaram’s house — the only other family in the vicinity.
The three — Tej Singh, Kavraj Singh and Manohar Singh — used to visit Tejaram’s house when he and Omaram were away at work in the nearby mines, threaten the three family members and sexually exploit the victim. They eventually killed her, the petition alleged. “Dalit women have been exploited by upper caste men for ages. No one listens to Dalits,” Tulsidas Raj, State convenor of Dalit Adhikar Manch told The Hindu. He has been helping the family fight the case. “Our only hope is the NHRC, which has taken cognisance of the case, and we have demanded a CBI enquiry, protection to Tejaram and his family and action against the policemen who kept Tejaram in illegal custody.
Importantly, it makes a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,’’ he said.
On May 13, Tejaram, after a directive from the court, lodged a second FIR in which the three men had been accused of sexually assaulting and killing his daughter-in-law. It was after the police refused to take action against those named in the second FIR that the family left their house fearing victimisation and sat on a dharna outside the Collectorate.
The police, on the other hand, claim that it was a clear case of dowry death. “The victim and Omaram did not get along. She was staying there against her will. Who wants to live with mentally unstable people? The only two sane men were out during the day, and there was no other family nearby. So the victim made friends with these three young boys which the family disapproved of,’’ said Govind Singh Devada, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jodhpur.
The case was registered at Phalodi police station on a complaint from the victim’s parents, he said.
The New Indian Express
Village Chief Booked for Caste Clash
THANJAVURFollowing a clash between members of dominant community and the Dalits of Mela Uloor village near Orathanadu, 12 persons, including the village panchayat president, were booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Eleven Dalits were also booked on charges of attempt to murder.
According to sources Thillaimani (60), wife of Manickam of Adi Dravidar street in Mela Uloor village died on Saturday and a handful of them, who had come to attend the funeral, visited a liquor outlet near Mela Uloor bus stop. While consuming liquor, an altercation broke out between the Dalits and the members of dominant community, following which both the sides exchanged blows. After the altercation, a group of dominant community members chased the Dalits and attacked them with footwear, stones and wooden logs. In this attack, six Dalits, including a woman, were injured.
Meanwhile, Orathanadu police based on a complaint made by Ramesh alias Marimuthu registered a case under various sections including attempt to murder against 11 members of Dalit community.
Based on a complaint by T Muruganandam of Adi Dravidar street of Mela Uloor, the Orathanadu police have registered a case under various sections of IPC against 12 persons of dominant community including Sankar, the Panchayat president of the Mela Uloor.
The Hindu
Man arrested
A member of the caste Hindu community was arrested by the Vela Goundapatti police in Namakkal district on charges of forcing a Dalit man to remove his excreta with bare hands and allegedly abusing him by his caste name.
The incident took place in Lathuvadi village in Mohanur taluk at 7 p.m. on July 2 when R. Periyasamy (30) and Dhanapal, both belonging to Dalit community, were defecating in the open near the road.
M. Kandasamy (50), and his wife Sampooranam, belonging to the Gounder community, came there and started to abuse them. They forced Periyasamy to remove his own excreta and tried to beat him.
When Dhanapal opposed, Kandasamy and Sampooranam allegedly abused him and threw stones at him. Periyasamy took up the issue with the Arundadiyar Peravai and Evidence, an NGO-based in Madurai.
Based on Periyasamy’s complaint, the police registered a case.
The New Indian Express
NHRC Notice to State on Dalit Youth Torture Case
BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has slapped a show-cause notice on Odisha Government asking it to explain why compensation should not be provided to a Dalit youth who was subjected to police excesses which led to the violation of his human rights last year.
The rights panel has asked Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra to submit a reply within six weeks.
The order was issued based on the complaint filed by Executive Director of Global Human Rights Communications, Dr Subash Mohapatra, against the torture and harassment of Baisnaba Sethi, a Scheduled Caste youth of Angul’s Kadalimunda.
Sethi, according to the petition, was on his way with his friend to board a bus at Rengalbeda under Riamal police limits on the night of August 29, 2013. At that time, a police party including SIs Dillip Kumar Sahu and Chita Ranjan Behera were making a surprise check to arrest smugglers of cannabis.
The police officers asked Sethi, who was driving the motorcycle with his friend on the pillion, to stop but he did not and moved a little ahead. Sahu rushed to him and snatched his driving licence. Following an altercation, he started to assault Sethi. He asked Sethi to come to Riamal police station and collect his driving licence.
Based on the complaint of Sethi, a case under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against Sahu and medical examination corroborated the assault leading to injury. After investigation, while it was found that Sethi was not implicated in any case of cannabis smuggling, Sahu was placed under suspension and a criminal case initiated against him.
Besides the Chief Secretary, the Commission has also asked Deogarh SP to submit within six weeks the outcome of the criminal case registered at Riamal police station and the departmental proceedings against the delinquent SI along with the status of payment of monetary relief to the victim under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (Amendment) Rules, 2011.
Hindustan Times
Crime against dalits biggest challenge for Bihar CM
New data released by the national crime record bureau (NCRB) shows checking crime against dalits presents itself as one of the biggest challenges facing Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who comes from this disadvantaged category.
As per the NCRB data, 6,721 incidents of crime against persons belonging to the scheduled castes (SCs) were recorded in Bihar during calendar year 2013, the second highest for any Indian state after Uttar Pradesh with 7,078 cases.
As such, Bihar contributed 17.05% of all incidents of crime against SCs, spread across 28 states and seven union territories, which are covered by the NCRB in its new report, released last week.
The report shows the total number of cases in Bihar involving crime against SCs which were up for trial in 2013 (including cases pending from the previous year) stood at 16,515, again, only second behind UP (25,538).
But what was an even more telling figure behind the court trial data, released by the NCRB, was the very low percentage of such cases that were disposed of by courts in Bihar during the year.
Out of 16,515 cases under trial, 67 cases were out compounded or withdrawn. Of the remaining 16,448 cases, just 1,560 cases could be disposed of during calendar year 2013.
This worked out to disposal rate just 9.48% of the cases involving crime against SCs that were under trial in Bihar during the year previous year. Again, the conviction rate in 1,560 concluded cases was just 13.1%.
This figure stood in stark contrast to the overall very high rate of conviction achieved by the state government in recent years. The government had claimed last year it was the highest in the country.
However, PK Thakur, who assumed charge as Bihar's director general of police (DGP) last month, insisted the position pertaining to crime against SCs in Bihar was far less aggravated than the figure of 6,721 suggested.
"What needs to be clarified at the outset is that unlike some other states, the bulk of the cases in Bihar are minor in nature – involving arson or abuses in the name of caste", said Bihar director general of police (DGP) P K Thakur.
Heinous offences against SCs, he said were fewer than most other states. This appeared to be supported by NCRB data which showed 50 cases of murder, 68 cases of rape and nine cases of kidnapping of SCs. The rest were less serious cases.
The DGP said greater awareness among SCs about their rights was also contributing to a larger number of cases being instituted.
"We are trying to empower SC police stations by posting more able officers and providing them more manpower and resources for more effective investigation of cases involving SCs", he explained.
About the slow progress of trials in cases involving SCs, DGP Mishra said a part of the problem was that courts were overburdened with cases.
"We may put forward a request to the government to facilitate – through the high court, more special courts dedicated to the trial of cases involving SCs", the DGP added.
Bihar state human rights commission member Neelmani said the commission has organized six divisional level workshops in Bihar last year to sensitize public servants regarding the violation of human rights of those belonging to the weaker sections.
"We plan to cover the remaining three divisions of Bihar (in all there are nine) later this year", Neelmani added.
The New Indian Express
Four Injured, 10 Booked in 2 Different Group Clashes
VILLUPURAM: A total of four persons was injured and 10 others were booked in connection with two different clashes near Ulundurpeton Saturday.
Police said that at least four villagers were injured in a communal clash that took place near Senthamangalam during the wee hours ofSaturday. On information, more than 50 police officials had been deployed in the village.
According to local sources, a street drama was organised on the occasion of Aani Uthira Dharisana at the village Main Road on Friday, which witnessed a turnout of over 200 villagers. The clash broke out after a Caste Hindu youth who was driving a motorcycle accidently hit a Dalit youth. Some of the supporters from both the sides, who witnessed the accident, came in support of the two as per their respective castes and got into a heated argument over the issue. It ultimately led to a fight between the two groups during which four villagers sustained injuries and were hospitalised at Mundioyambakkam and Pondicherry Government Hospital.
The agitators also damaged an autorickshaw passing by. Based on a complaint from the autorickshaw driver Kumar, Thirunavalur police registered a case and are investigating.
In another similar clash in Sembiandevi village during Muthumariamman temple festival, about 10 villagers belonging to Caste Hindu community were arrested for creating a nuisance in a public place here on Saturday evening.
Elavansoorkottai police officials said Rajkumar (22) and Subramani (28) of Sembiandevi village have been involved in land dispute for the past one year.
The duo, in an inebriated condition, fought between themselves over the same issue on the temple premises. The supporters of both the members also joined in the fight.
Local villagers informed Elavansoorkottai police who arrested all the 10 members in connection with the incident.
Deccan Chronicle
Committee to check for misuse of Bhoodan land
Hyderabad: To fulfil its promise to give three acres of land to every landless Dalit family, the Telangana government is focusing on lakhs of acres of Bhoodhan lands in Medak, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda and Hyderabad districts.
The government on Saturday appointed B.R. Meena, principal secretary, revenue, to exercise the power of the Bhoodan Board. It will also constitute a Cabinet committee to look into the issue. The committee’s first meeting is likely to take place on Monday.
The committee will take up a survey of Bhoodan lands to identify the occupants and determine the extent to which they have been misused. “These lands were sold to private individuals who were using it for commercial purposes,” said a revenue official, adding that the government would ascertain the facts before initiating necessary action. According to officials, only 314 acres of free land is left with the Bhoodan Board, which can be distributed.
When Gandhian Vinoba Bhave had launched the Bhoodan – or land gift – movement in April 1951, over 1,95,509 acre of land was handed over by 12,993 donors, a large part of which was distributed to 49,446 people to take up agriculture. Another 8,320 acre is in litigation for encroachment and trials are ongoing. While another 4000 acre has been retrieved from legal entangles.
The Tribune
Sangrur, July 6
The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission will direct the Additional Director General of Police, Crime, to hold a probe into the auction of panchayat land, reserved for SCs, in Balad Kalan village, near Bhawanigarh.
Commission Chairman Rajesh Bagha today said an inquiry by the ADGP (Crime) was a must as Dalits of Balad Kalan village were alleging that the auction had not been held in a transparent manner. He said in case any discrepancy was found in the auction, it would be cancelled.
Following police action against Dalits during the auction of panchayat land at Balad Kalan village in Bhawanigarh on June 27, 41 Dalits were arrested and sent to jail. Since then, there is resentment among members of the Dalit community, who demand that the auction be cancelled; the 41 arrested persons be released; and the “erring” police officials be booked.
Bagha also visited Dalits in Baopur, Matoi and Balad Kalan villages, where they staged dharnas against the auction of land to “dummy” cultivators. They have been demanding that the land be allotted to genuine cultivators at low rates.
However, Bagha praised the police and the civil administration for resolving the land dispute at Baopur village (Moonak). The auction for the land there was held peacefully a few days ago. He said all 105 Dalit families were happy with the auction.
Bagha also appreciated the girls, who had formed Ekta Club in Matoi village, and had been demanding that the land be allotted to genuine Dalit cultivators. He said such clubs should be formed in other districts also.
The matter at hand\\
Commission chairman Rajesh Bagha said the ADGP (Crime) should hold an inquiry into the matt He said Dalits of Balad Kalan village were alleging that the auction had not been held in a transparent
Bagha demanded if any discrepancy was found in the auction, it should be cancelled.
News Monitor by Girish Pant
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of “Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC”)
Pl visit on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/
..............................
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.
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of “Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC”)
Pl visit on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/
..............................
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment