June 26, 2016
PEOPLE’S UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES
(PUCL) ODISHA
Press Statement
Dt.20.6.2016
Dt.20.6.2016
Sub: Burning of Dalit houses at
Kamagarh and deliberate inaction by the government machinery
The PUCL is deeply concerned at the
growing caste atrocities on dalits by the upper caste communities
in the state, particularly in the rural areas. Of more concern is
the deliberate inaction by the government machinery in providing
protection to the dalit communities and making a mockery of the
Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989). The recent incident in
Kamagarh is an example of this.
On 3rd June, 2016, eleven dalit
houses were burnt down allegedly by the upper caste (Sabarna) of
the village Kamagarh of the eponymous Panchayat in the Aska Block
of Ganjam District. Upon the request of local social activists, the
PUCL team in association with Shri Shankar Pani, Advocate, visited
Kamagarh on 18th June. The team met victim families, the incumbent
Sarpanch, the IIC of Aska police station, local reporters of Aska
and political and social activists of Ganjam.
There are 19 families belonging to
Hadi caste (one of the Scheduled Castes located at the bottom of
the caste hierchy) living in the periphery of the village for the
last three generations. All of them are landless. Only five
families have managed to have homestead land on which they had
constructed pucca houses under Indira Awas Yojna. Other families
have been living on a small patch of unused land by building small
thatched houses. Wage labour is their main source of livelihood.
Women make brooms out of date fronds and chip stones to supplement
the family income.
On 23rd February, 2016, a cultural
troupe was performing Duari Nata (a traditional folk art form) in
the village. Hadi and Hadiani characters are a permanent feature of
this performance. While playing these characters, the artists took
individual names of the people belonging to Hadi community of the
village and made obscene, ugly and humiliating remarks having
double meanings. One of the youths of Hadi community objected to
this, and asked the troupe manager to desist from making such
remarks. But some of the upper caste youths, mostly emigrants to
Surat, who had come back to the village on vacation, tried to shout
them down and threatened to beat them up. Out of fear, they left
the place.
Since this incident, tension between
the upper castes and the dalit community was simmering. The upper
caste men kept on abusing and threatening the dalit community. Even
a ‘compromise’ was reached between both the parties in the Aska
police station. A written statement was signed by both the parties
to the effect that they would maintain peace.
But, on 7th April, another Duari
Natak was performed in the village, and the same obscene, casteist
remarks were made while playing the role of Hadi and Hadiani in
violation of the compromise that was reached in presence of the
police. This was followed by more threats and social boycott of the
dalit community. They were denied access to village shops and pond.
Chemicals were thrown into the well to make its water non-potable,
and a lump of human excreta was fixed on the community hand
pump-set.
Fearing physical attacks, most of the
men went to hiding. However, not being satisfied with this, the
upper caste people held a meeting on 22nd of May, and decided to
attack the Hadi hamlet on the 3rd of June with the goal of
destroying the entire hamlet. It was even decided in this meeting
that each family of the village will provide one member for the
attacking team failing which a fine of Rs.1051 would be levied on
the household for non-participation.
Apprehending the looming danger, male
members of the victim families, who had already left the village,
knocked on every door available for their safety. They, including
women, went to meet the M.L.A of their constituency. They also met
the Collector and the SP to apprise them of the situation of the
village and sought protection of life and property. On 31st May,
they sent messages by Fax to the Collector, SP, and the Chief
Minister.
Around nine O’clock in the morning
of the 3rd of June, nearly 2000 people including 30-40 women
(standing in for absent male members) came in a group with lathis,
crowbars, axes and gainti in hand shouting “mara, hana” (beat
and slay) and attacked the dalit houses. Out of fear, people fled
to a nearby hillock, with a few women offering feeble protest. But
they were dragged by their hair and were thrown around, and had to
watch their houses being burnt and decimated. The male members, who
were staying outside the village, contacted the IIC and the Fire
Brigade. The first group of fire fighters was not allowed to enter
the village by the attackers. The second group came around 11
O’clock and managed to douse the fire. By then 11 houses had
burnt to ashes.
On 3rd of June, the victims lodged
complaints against 19 miscreants. An FIR has been registered under
various sections of the IPC and the PoA Act of 1989. However, no
action has been taken against any one of accused till date. The
joint investigation to be undertaken by the police (not below the
ramk of DSP) and Tahsildar is yet to be initiated. People have been
living under open sky with black polythene sheets provided by the
administration – the only barrier between them and the impending
monsoon rains. No steps have been undertaken by the district
administration for the rehabilitation of these people except
providing cooked meals for two and a half days.
Key findings
It is a clear case of the failure of
the police and the administration to respond to a situation where a
vulnerable community, under threat from dominant upper caste
people, was seeking help from the state for protection of its life
and property. Even after the incident, the police are yet to take
action against the accused. This clearly shows an utter disregard
for the concerned law but also an indifference to the sufferings of
the people.
Victims are perpetually living in
fear and in apprehension that rest of the dalit houses would be
destroyed by the upper caste people.
Caste prejudice against the dalit
community, including untouchability, is a serious issue in the
area. However, neither the district administration nor the local
political leadership has shown any concern to address it.
Demands
PUCL demands that both the police and the district administration immediately take measures to provide security to the victims’ families in the village so that they can live without fear and with dignity. The police need to act upon the FIR immediately. An RDC level inquiry into the failure of the local police and the role of other concerned officials in responding to the situation would help in restoring the confidence of victims in the police and district administration.
PUCL demands that both the police and the district administration immediately take measures to provide security to the victims’ families in the village so that they can live without fear and with dignity. The police need to act upon the FIR immediately. An RDC level inquiry into the failure of the local police and the role of other concerned officials in responding to the situation would help in restoring the confidence of victims in the police and district administration.
In addition to immediate relief of
providing food and shelter to the victims’ families the
administration must take steps for their long term economic
rehabilitation.
The District administration must keep
a close watch in the entire Kamagarh Gram Panchayat to monitor the
caste tension and prevent escalation of further violence.
Pramodini Pradhan
Convenor (PUCL-Odisha)
Tel -9439200989
Convenor (PUCL-Odisha)
Tel -9439200989
Serve the People - Communist League of Norway
