MEMORANDUM

To

Sub. :  Attack on dalits at Mirchpur, Hissar district in Haryana in which two dalits were burnt alive, in Gujarat, where twenty six villages including Banthal village where dalits have been forced to quit the village and rising cases of atrocities against dalits in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.

Respected Sir,

We would like to draw your attention to the shocking incident of arson attack on Dalit houses on 21 April, 2010. at Mirchpur, in Haryana’s Hisar district in which two people were burnt alive, including  a 70 year old man and his 18 year old physically -challenged daughter, in the presence of police. In total, Fifteen houses were damaged in the arson attack by members of dominant community in the village.

Even after one month, of dreadful and demeaning incident, the justice to the affected dalit villagers and the family is hanging in fire. All the persons, named in the FIR have been not arrested yet. Party President, Ram Vilas Paswan, has personally visited the place of occurrence and found that dalits are living in constant fear.

The government of Haryana, has provided economic relief to the affected people and has also offered government job to three persons, but such incident is nothing new for this state, which has witnessed similar attacks over the years. Salwan, Dulina, Harshulla, Gohana, and Mahmoodpur cases, are a stark reminder of such demeaning acts.

The party president, has also visited, Banthal village, in Gujarat, on 14 to 16 April, 2010. The village is situated 80 Km away, from the state capital, Ahmedabad, where 145 dalits, who were living in this village, since, last many years, have been forced to quit the village, last year, because they wanted to offer prayers  in the village temple.  

The affected villagers, were living far away, in Jaitpur Village, in Saurashtra, 200 Km away, from their original place of residence. On 14th April, the villagers, were rehabilitated by Shri Paswan, through a march organised by him, from Ahmedabad. In this regard, a memorandum was also submitted to Governor of the state, Home Minister, Govt. of India, and Hon’ble President. 

We would also like to draw your attention, to the fact that according to report of SC and ST Commission, the State of Uttar Pradesh, has got highest number of cases of atrocities on dalits.

We would also like to protest, against the system of Khap Panchyat, prevailing in Haryana, which is totally, illegal and against all human values and demand ban on it.

We demand -------------

• Center must immediately, direct state governments to take urgent steps to stop atrocities on dalits and take effective legal action against people  indulging in attacks on dalits.
• The affected dalits of Mirchpur, Haryana and Banthal, Gujarat, should be rehabilitated elsewhere immediately.
• Special trial court should be set up to deal with cases involving attacks on dalits. The pending cases of attacks on dalits in Haryana, should be transferred to courts in Delhi, for fair and impartial trial.
• Khap Panchyat, should be banned immediately.