DALITS/SCHEDULED CASTES - 2013 - Indian Social Institute

in the area for some time and on August 31, clashes between the two communities began around 7:30pmin which members from both the communities were injured and a 55-year-old Ram Sundar was beaten todeath," Mehdi said. Villagers told the Congress leaders that after the clash, over 25 huts in the Dalit bastiwere torched, forcing villagers to take shelter in the Kutubpur Upper Primary School of the neighbouringvillage. "Their huts with their belongings and foodgrains were set on fire. Some of the livestock was alsokilled", said Maroof Khan, part of team said. "The incident took place over a land dispute. Police wasdeployed in the area. The situation is under control. FIR has been lodged," said Sanjay Prasad,Commissioner Faizabad division. (Indian Express 6/9/13)Put atrocity cases against Dalits on fast track: Verka (2)The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has favoured setting up of fast track courts toredress the cases of atrocities on Dalits in the country. Raj Kumar Verka, vice-chairman of NCSC, toldreporters here on Friday evening that conviction rate in the cases atrocities was less than 5%. “The trendis worrisome and the country needs a mechanism for speedy disposal of cases. It will help in stepping upthe morale of the oppressed vicitmised by the caste biased persons,” Verka said. He was in the city torelease a book “Shri Guru Ravidas Mahakavyam” written by Dr Mahavir Prasad. The function wasorganised at Akhil Bhartiya Sahitya Parishad here. Verka said the condition of Dalit atrocities in Haryanawas discouraging and strongly demanded formation of a panel to protect the rights of Dalits. He said hehad met state chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda twice to press for the formation of the committee.“Constitution of an SC committee is the need of the hour in Haryana. If the state can have rights panel foranimals (as the Cow Commission) then why not one for the SCs,” he said. Vice-chairman said in Haryanahardly 10% of the cases of Dalit atrocities were reported and a dedicated panel would ensure redressingthe grievances of social oppressed classes. (Hindutan Times 7/9/13)Dalit ex-sarpanch 'beaten up' by her rivals at gram sabha meet (2)Mumbai: A former woman sarpanch was allegedly beaten up by her rivals as she asked questions duringa gram sabha meeting in Waghe-Bhabalgaon (Kaig) village in Beed district on Saturday. The police haveregistered a case against 14 persons under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention ofAtrocities) Act. The meeting had been convened by sarpanch Chhaya Mane at a village temple to discussa water scheme. According to reports, former sarpanch Kalavati Sopan Jadhav, a Dalit, and hersupporters asked the gram sabha to give details on the expenditure related to schemes for Dalit residentsof the village. Kalavati's rivals asked her to keep quiet as they had other items on the agenda to discuss.This led to an altercation between the two groups, said the Kaig police. Senior inspector Nandkumar Patilsaid: "We have lodged a complaint against 14 persons under SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act." Intheir complaint, Kalavati and her supporters said they were beaten up and confined inside the temple,adding that chutney powder was sprayed into their eyes and abusive words were used against them.However, the Mane group came up with a counter complaint against Kalavati and her supporters for"outraging the modesty of women", said the police officer. He said: "Mane's supporters have said therivals sprayed red chilli powder on them. Claims and counter claims are going on." The police said noneof the villagers was severely injured, adding that the situation was under control. Confirming the fightbetween the women workers from both groups, eyewitnesses said the women hurled abuses and pulledhair of each other. According to sources, most of the gram sabha members represent the ruling NCP.What triggered the ugly fight between the two women groups supported by their male colleagues was anissue related to a water project… (India Express 9/9/13)Dalit woman draws water from well in upper caste area, thrashed (2)KENDRAPARA (Odisha): A dalit woman was allegedly beaten up by members of upper caste for drawingpotable water from a government-dug deep tube well in their area at a village in Odisha's Kendraparadistrict, police said on Wednesday. The woman faced the wrath of upper caste groups in Pikirali village,