Dalits Media Watch News Updates 20.03.11

Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 20.03.11

'Caste' Hindus boycott Dalits in Hosapura - The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/20/stories/2011032055440500.htm

Dalits hold protest - The Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110320/haryana.htm#13

DSS leader's death sparks protest Bangalore, - Deccan Herald

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/147235/dss-leaders-death-sparks-protest.html

'Inaction' on recovering land meant for SCs, STs dominates panchayat meet - The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/19/stories/2011031964350500.htm

DSP to probe violence against Dalits - Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dsp-to-probe-violence-against-dalits/764691/

'Discrimination, atrocities against Dalits a poor reflection on democracy' - The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/20/stories/2011032060180900.htm

The Hindu

'Caste' Hindus boycott Dalits in Hosapura

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/20/stories/2011032055440500.htm

Special Correspondent

MYSORE: The scourge of untouchability has raised its ugly head in Hosapura village of Malavalli taluk, Mandya district, where a group of 'caste' Hindus allegedly created ruckus over the appointment of a Dalit as a valve-man.

The incident took place early last week and threatened to split the community on caste lines. Police have arrested three persons in this connection but this served only to escalate the tension as 'caste' Hindus questioned the "temerity" of the Dalits to lodge a police complaint against them.

Source said the genesis of the tension could be traced to the decision of the Gram Panchayat Secretary Siddaraju, who appointed Venkatesh, a Dalit as the valve man to release water to the village. When a group of persons saw Venkatesh releasing water, they raised a hue and cry on the "propriety" of using the water released by a "Dalit valve-man", said sources.

As a result, tension built up in the village and a section of the aggrieved community lodged a police complaint, following which three persons, identified as Shivu, Basavaraj and Prakash were arrested and later released on bail. Irked by the "audacity" of the Dalit community, they have been allegedly boycotted by people from other communities, sources said.

However, Shivaramu, Social Welfare Officer of Mandya told The Hindu that he had visited the village and inquired into the incident which presented a different picture.

He said the village community had strong political affiliations and was split along party lines. "It transpired that the appointment of a Dalit was not the issue. The warring groups wanted one of their confidantes to be given the job of the valve-man. However, a few outside elements gave a caste twist to the appointment of Mr. Venkatesh, which led to tension following which three persons were arrested and later released on bail", Mr. Shivaramu said.

"I visited the village twice after the incident was reported and the allegations of Dalits being denied work in agricultural farms was false. Landlords and landless labourers are mutually dependent and one could not do without the other," he added. Mr. Shivaramu said the situation was now under control and the district administration has ensured supply of groceries and other essential commodities to the Dalit colony.

The Tribune

Dalits hold protest

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110320/haryana.htm#13

Rewari, March 19

Irate women of the Dalit community staged a protest demonstration by breaking pitchers near the residence of the sarpanch at Cheeta Doongra village, 30 km from here, today.

Criticising the sarpanch, they alleged that some influential villagers had obtained private water connections in an unauthorised manner from their main line with the connivance of the sarpanch, due to which the colony of the Dalits had not been receiving the drinking water supply.

They deplored that it was all the more agonising that their repeated requests made to the sarpanch and the DC in the past few weeks had remained unanswered. They warned that if their problem was not addressed, they would hold a protest at the district secretariat here as well. — OC

Deccan Herald

DSS leader's death sparks protest Bangalore,

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/147235/dss-leaders-death-sparks-protest.html

The area at and around Bommanahalli junction witnessed a few tensed moments when the Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) staged a snap stir demanding stern action against Madivala police station inspector Purushottam.

The sudden death of a DSS leader, Sampangi (52), allegedly due to suicide sparked off the protest.

The protesters claimed that torture by police officer Purushottam forced Sampangi take the extreme step. He was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside the Ambedkar Samudaya Bhavan at Bommanahalli on Friday night.

Things took a different turn after a suicide note was found in the Bhavan. Sampangi wrote: "Purushottam is a useless police officer. He is harassing and exploiting Dalits. He doesn't have respect for the Constitution of this country. Hence, dalits should be cautious about him."

Sampangi's son Anand had recently eloped with Ramya, a relative of corporator Manjunath Reddy. Ramya's parents had lodged a complaint with Madivala police on March 10. The police registered a case and frequently summoned Sampangi to the station and allegedly harassed him. He decided to end his life as he was unable to bear the mental torture, alleged the protesters.

DCP (South East) B N S Reddy said stern action will be taken against the guilty after an inquiry. 

The protest led to traffic jam in the area for some time.

The Hindu

'Inaction' on recovering land meant for SCs, STs dominates panchayat meet

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/19/stories/2011031964350500.htm

Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE: The delay on the part of the revenue authorities in repossessing the "depressed class lands," locally known as DC Manna lands, which are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, dominated a meeting called at the Mangalore Taluk Panchayat office on Friday. The lands are allegedly encroached upon.

The meeting was called by the taluk-level committee that looks into the cases of atrocities against SCs and STs, bonded labourers and welfare of backward classes. The meeting was chaired by Assistant Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti.

Raising the issue, S.P. Anand, district convenor of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) (Ambedkar Vada), said despite assurance during the taluk and district-level meetings, action had not been taken to repossess the depressed class lands. Mr. Anand said action had not been taken to take back the two acres of land in Urwa that was reserved as a DC manna land. Instead of repossessing the DC manna land, the Revenue Department authorities were going ahead with evicting the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe staying on government land, Mr. Anand said. The Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Bheemavada) activist P. Keshav said the authorities were not concerned about the rehabilitation of the evicted persons. "We are not against eviction. But provide us the place where we can be relocated," he said.

Mr. Kavalikatti said the process was on to identify the DC Manna lands in the district. If the lands had been used for any purpose other than the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the authorities would find whether the statutory requirement of segregation of appropriate size of land had been complied with. A report would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner shortly, he said.

Problem

At the meeting, the participants complained about the problem faced by students in getting the monthly stipend from schools and colleges.

Mr. Keshav pointed out that the students were made to make frequent visits to the banks, the Mangalore City Corporation and visit principals to get the amount.

Indian Express

DSP to probe violence against Dalits

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dsp-to-probe-violence-against-dalits/764691/

Express News Service Sat Mar 19 2011, 03:26 hrs Panchkula:

DSP(Hq) Badri Prasad has been handed over the investigation of violence against Dalits in Barwala, which took place yesterday. A dispute over earnings of Rs 15 lakh from shamlat land led to a fight between two groups in Barwala on Thursday. One of the group, belonging to upper caste community from Batour village, armed with sticks, attacked the Dalits at a local CPI office, who had gathered there. They were enraged that the Dalits had complained to DC Ashima Brar about them.

In the fight, Suresh Pal, Joginder, Satpal, Lakshman, Gyan Chand and Satpal were injured. "The other Dalits had locked themselves inside the office and some fled into the village and thus got saved," said ASI Sushil Kumar, In-charge of Police Post of Barwala.

They injured were taken to hospital in Raipur Rani. Two of them, Suresh Pal and Satpal, were referred to Sector 6-based Civil Hospital in Panchkula city. All are reported to be out of danger.

Meanwhile the police registered the case under Section 3 of SC/ST Act and Section 148( rioting), 149( for being a member of unlawful assembly) , 323( for voluntarily causing hurt), 452( for trespassing) and 506( for criminal intimidation) of IPC against about 107 persons.

According to the police, Dalits were to meet DC on the day of violence. As the case was registered under SC/ST Act, only an officer of the level of DSP could investigate it.

The Hindu

'Discrimination, atrocities against Dalits a poor reflection on democracy'

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/20/stories/2011032060180900.htm

Special Correspondent

Activists call for sensitising the administration, better implementation of laws

JAIPUR: Nearly two dozen cases of atrocities, untouchability, violence and discrimination against Dalits were presented at a public hearing on Dalit rights here earlier this week with a call for sensitising the administration, implementing the laws and breaking the nexus between criminals and a section of public servants.

The day-long hearing was organised by Jaipur-based Centre for Dalit Rights (CDR) at Samagra Seva Sangh grounds here to raise the demand for justice in the crimes against Dalits in Rajasthan during the past few months and ensure accountability of police and administration for executing the laws for protection of Scheduled Castes.

Dalit activists and victims presenting the instances of atrocities pointed out that the rampant anti-Dalit mind-set of so-called higher castes "reflected in the administrative machinery" often leads to denial of justice, as the cases are routinely weakened, local mafia is protected, victims are threatened and the criminals get political protection.

The jury at the public hearing comprised former Rajasthan High Court Judge I. S. Israni, Supreme Court lawyer M. P. Raju, former State Women's Commission chairperson Pawan Surana, Rajiv Gupta of Rajasthan University, Sunny Sebastian of The Hindu, R. K. Ankodia of CDR and Nisha Siddhu of the National Federation of Indian Women.

CDR patron P. L. Mimroth said the trial in the Dalits' cases was obstructed at every stage, with the victims not getting notices on time for hearing in courts in 58 per cent of the cases. "The FIR is always registered with great reluctance, but the police are prompt in [filing] final reports in the courts for closure of Dalit atrocity cases."

Dalit activist Gopal Ram Verma said the police and administrative officers seemed interested in somehow getting a compromise reached between the victims and perpetrators of violence rather than taking action against the latter: "In this scenario, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, remains only on paper."

Several cases

The cases presented before the jury included the recent attacks on Dalit localities at Husaipur village in Alwar district and Chandupura in Bharatpur, killing of a Dalit boy allegedly to please Lord Balaji at Mehandipur, three Dalit children expelled from a school in Alwar on their caste identity being revealed and thrashing of a Dalit man on touching the utensils of a Brahmin shopkeeper in Gadhkheda village.

Except for the Husaipur incident, where the State Government released financial assistance to Dalits and arrested the offenders, all other cases were either not registered or closed with a compromise forced on the victims. Dalit activists pointed out that action was taken in Husaipur because of "political sensitivity" of the matter involving Meo Muslims.

Thandi Ram of Mudiakheda village in Dausa district alleged that his nephew Rajendra was taken to Lord Balaji's temple in Mehandipur on the pretext of work at the inauguration of a guest-house on the premises. He alleged that the boy was sacrificed in the temple and his mother was later given some money to sign the papers for a compromise.

Mukesh Kumar Valmiki said he had got his three children admitted to Balika City Public Shiksha Samiti School in Alwar through the normal process. When the school management came to know of the children's caste after a week, the Principal flatly told him to take them to some other school. Despite his complaint, the district administration did not take any action.

The jury, taken aback by the stories of blatant discrimination narrated at the hearing, observed that atrocities against Dalits was a "poor reflection" on democracy even after six decades of Independence. "Needless to say, the strongest action should be taken against the public servants for dereliction of duty," said the jury in one of its recommendations.

Emphasising the significance of execution of laws for Dalits' protection, the jury recommended steps to break the nexus between criminals, police and politicians and provide protection to Dalit victims and witnesses to take all cases registered under the SC/ST (PoA) Act and other statutes to their logical end to ensure conviction of offenders.

-- 
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
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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.