New Delhi. The shocking incident of arson attack on Dalit houses last week, At Mirchpur, in Haryana’s Hisar district in which two people were burnt alive has shattered the conscience of nation. The gruesome attack is beyond condemnation.
In this attack the house of a Dalit family was set afire, killing a 70 year old man and his 18 year old physically -challenged daughter in the April 21 attack. Fifteen houses were damaged in the arson attack by members of Jat community in the village.
Even after 16 days of dreadful and demeaning incident, the justice to the affected dalit villagers and the family is hanging in fire. Moved by the plight of the dalits, the party has decided to visit the village, under the leadership of Ram Vilas Paswan on 8th May 2010, to ensure justice to the affected families and the villagers.
Paswan, said that, “I am extremely shocked.” In protest against this shocking incident, the party is going to organise a massive dharna on 20th May 2010 at Jantar-Mantar under the banner of National Dalit Front, he said. In this dharna, prominent Dalit leaders of the country including, Shri Paswan, former Union Cabinet Minister, Shri Satya Narayan Jatia, Shri Ramdas Atahwale, National President, Republican Party, Shri Ram Chander Paswan, National President, Dalit Sena, Shri Udit Raj, National President, Justice Party, Shri Charanjit Singh Atwal, Former Vice President, Lok Sabha, Ramji Lal Singh Suman, former M.P., Shri Dalip Balmiki, Shri Sunil Borse, Dr. O.P. Shukla, Shri Madan Lal Balmiki and Shri Rajendra Kumar Parcha, would participate, he added.
According to report, received from the State Unit of LJP, in Mirchpur on the night of 19th April 2010, some elements of Jat community, who were drunk were passing by the dalit village, entered into fight with dalit children. Next day when the elders went to complain on this account to the responsible people in Jat Basti, they too were attacked. In this attack, namely a dalit, Veerbhan, was injured and the matter was brought to the notice of local police, but the police took no action. On 20th April 2010, the entire dalit village remained tensed. On the other, Jats remained busy in planning an attack on the dalit village.
On 21st April 2010 in the presence of the police, the dalit village was attacked and their houses were set afire. The police remained a mute spectator and arson attack continued for more than two hours. An 18 -year old physically- challenged girl, Suman, who was studying in class 12th was burnt alive. The poor father, Tarachand, begged for help but no one, including police, came forward to the rescue the poor family.
Paswan, said that for this arson attack the local administration and the police are equally responsible. The ghastly incident could have been avoided if police would have acted in time, he added. In Mirchpur this is not the first attack on dalits, but it is a regular feature as in 2003, 2005 and 2006, also dalits were attacked. In 2006, women were paraded naked in Mirchpur and police took no action. Haryana is known for such frightening arson attacks on dalits and the list is endless. The incidents of Salwan, 1989, Dulina, 2003, Harsola, 2005, Gohna, 2006, Mahmadpur and Jhajjar are a few cases still alive in our memory. LJP demands that –
- The guilty officials should be immediately suspended.
- A Judicial enquiry should be ordered and the entire matter must be disposed off within 6 months by setting up a special fast track court.
- Dalits must be rehabilitated immediately outside the village, where they could live freely and fearlessly.
- All the matters pertaining to attacks and exploitations of dalits should be transferred to courts in Delhi.
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