DALIT ATROCITIES - 2005 - Indian Social Institute

NEW DELHI: A "Dalit Mahapanchayat" organised on Monday at the Ramlila Grounds here in the
wake of the burning down of over 35 houses of Dalits at Valmiki Basti in Gohana village of
Haryana on August 31 demanded dismissal of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government in the
State and a thorough probe into the entire episode by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Held under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Valmiki Samaj, the meeting was attended by a large
number of people from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi and other States. In
a resolution, the "panchayat" demanded dismissal of the Haryana Government and also
demanded a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs to each of the affected Dalit families and a CBI probe
into the incident to unearth the truth. The "panchayat" also urged the authorities concerned to
initiate criminal proceedings against the area Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of
Police as they had failed to prevent the incident despite information that the Dalits living at
Valmiki Basti could be targeted after the murder of a financer, Baljeet, on August 27. After the
murder, most residents of Valmiki Basti had fled apprehending an attack. The two officers in
question have been transferred out following allegations of negligence on their part. The
community leaders also asked for a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of Baljeet.
Some of the participants were of the view that the First Information Report pertaining to the
murder should be set aside and a fresh investigation into the matter launched. (The Hindu 6/9/05)
Gohana spills over to Punjab: 50 hurt (2)
Chandigarh :Balmiki Sangathan men set afire 17 vehicles; attack gurudwara, temple---- Members
of Balmiki Sangathan in Punjab, who had called a bandh to protest the last week's torching of
Dalit houses in Gohana, turned violent in Amritsar and Kapurthala on Monday. The protesters
fought pitched battle with the police and set on fire 17 vehicles in Amritsar and damaged a
gurudwara at Amrit Bazar and board of Satianarayan mandir in Kapurthala. Around 40 police
officials and 10 protesters were injured in different incidents. An agency report, quoting
Superintendent of Police DP Singh, said the protestors clashed with police on streets and hurled
soft drink bottles, which left around 40 police officials injured. In Amritsar, they damaged 10
buses, including four Punjab Roadways buses, five other vehicles and set afire two motorcycles,
the report said. The crowd, brandishing iron and wooden rods, attacked police at different places
in the walled city.They went into a private school building near town hall and dragged children
from their class rooms besides beating them. They damaged public property at the busiest Hall
Bazar area where the window panes of some eating joints were smashed. In Kapurthala,
sporadic incidents of violence forced the police to lathicharge, fire tear gas shells, and deploy
Black Cat commandos and riot-control vehicles in sensitive areas to prevent the situation from
spiralling out of control. Sources said the Balmiki Sangathan had on Sunday held a meeting at
Shehariyan in Kapurthala to "chalk out a plan of action" and express solidarity with the Guhana
victims. It was decided at this meeting to enforce a complete bandh on Monday. (Pioneer 6/9/05)
Probe ordered into attack on Dalits in Akola (2)
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Tuesday announced a magisterial
inquiry into the recent attack on Dalits in Akola district. Briefing reporters after a Cabinet meeting,
he said 13 houses and two shops were destroyed in the attack. The total loss of property
amounted to Rs. 5.47 lakh. The Government would rebuild the homes. Referring to the flood relief
operations, Mr. Deshmukh said farmers who had lost their crops would be compensated — Rs.
25,000 a hectare for irrigated land and Rs. 15,000 a hectare for unirrigated land up to two
hectares. Since the Central aid was not yet approved, the State would fork out the relief amounts.
So far the State has spent Rs. 429 crores for relief. (The Hindu 7/9/05)
6 held for Gohana dalit violence (2)
New Delhi, Sept. 6: The police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested two more persons named in
the FIR for burning dalit houses in Gohana. Also arrested were four persons, including the prime
suspect in the murder of a financier that triggered the casteist violence. Superintendent of police
Rajinder Singh said investigations in both cases were in progress and a hunt was on for the
others involved. Special teams had been formed and a new police post had been established in
Balmiki Basti of Gohana town to instil confidence among the dalits. Those arrested in connection
with the arson incident at Balmiki Basti on August 31 are Radhey Sham of Lath village and Manoj