News of atrocities on Dalits continues to be reported from different states of the country. In Mathura in UP [Uttar Pradesh], a Dalit youth was first thrashed when he asked for his wages, and then an attempt was made to kill him by dousing him in petrol. Whereas in Bundi in Rajasthan, a young man was first beaten with chains, and then he was chained and kept hostage in an animal shed for 31 hours. In both instances, a police investigation is ongoing following the registration of a case.
What are both cases about?
Case 1
Pintu is a resident of Jamuna Nagar in the Baldev area of Mathura. In the written report submitted to the police station, Pintu's brother Manoj Kumar stated that his brother had since long worked as a laborer in the fields belonging toPanditHarishankar, a resident of VirpurMathuria. On 22 May, his brother Pintu went to PanditHarishankar's house to collect his outstanding wages of Rs 7,500.
Manoj told us that PanditHarishankarhad not given outstanding wages for quite some time and Pintu was in great need of money. When Pintu asked PanditHarishankar for the money, Harishankar refused to give it. As Pintu continued to repeat his request to be paid, PanditHarishankarbecame angry andassaultedPintu with a stick. Then in his rage, PanditHarishankarthrew petrol on Pintu and set him on fire. Pintumanaged to save his life by somehow jumping into a nearby [water] tank. Pintu was in a critical condition by the time he reached home, and his family admitted him to the hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. The police have registered a case in the matter and the circle officer is investigating the matter.
Case 2
Radheshyam Meghwal (35), a Dalitliving in Beelooba village, tehsil Taleda in Rajasthan's Bundi district, was brutally thrashed and kept in a hungry and thirsty state for up to 31 hours in an animal shed. Radheshyamreported in the incident and filed a case (number 189/22) in Taleda police station on May 25, 2022, under sections 143,323,342, 343, and 365 of the IPC [Indian Penal Code] and section 3/2 of the SC/ST Act [Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989]. According to the FIR [first information report] lodged in the Taleda police station, RadheshyamMeghwal was hired by accused Paramjit Singh three years ago for an annual wage of Rs.70,000. Apart from this, Radheshyam had taken a loan of Rs.3 lakhs on interest. Made to labor all the time, day and night, Radheshyam fell ill, and after 6 months he left Paramjit Singh's farmhouse.
According to the FIR lodged by Radheshyam, he was constantly harassed by Paramjit and his younger brother for not being able to fulfill an advance of Rs 1 lakh. According to Radheshyam, 4 months before he left the work, he had returned another Rs25,000. According to the complaint submitted at the police station, two years ago, Paramjit Singh and his younger brother had forcibly picked upRadheshyam from his house and made him work continuously for 10 days harvesting crops. After this abuse by Paramjit Singh, Radheshyam again paid Rs.25,000.
According to the FIR, the present incident happened on May 22. As a result of the corona epidemic, Radheshyamhad not been able to pay the 3 percent rate of interest on his loan, for three years. He had been sitting at a shop in BhartaBaori village. At around 11 o'clock, Paramjit, his younger brother, and four other people arrived on bikes and abducted Radheshyam. They took him to Paramjit Singh's house and after beating him up, shackled his feet in chains and kept him hostage, hungry and thirsty, for 31 hours in an animal shed. After hearing about Radheshyam on May 23 morning, Radheshyam's younger brother Ravi Shankar went to Paramjit's farmhouse and pleaded for Radheshyam's release. Paramjit told him he could take his brother after paying. 1,10,000. Feeling harassed, Ravi Shankar went again to Paramjit Singh's house with his cousin Hari Shankar, but Paramjit did not setRadheshyamfree. During this visit, Hari Shankar took a photo of Radheshyam on his mobile and made a video. Late in the evening, Ravi Shankar reached Sanjay Chaudhary's house in Alfanagar to ask for help. Sanjay Choudhary settled Paramjit'sdebt by hiringRadheshyam on an annual wage of Rs.75,000. After which Paramjit freed Radheshyam.
On May 24, he went to the police station to report the whole matter but an FIR was not registered. After which the victim approached the DSP [Deputy Superindent] Shankarlal with a complaint. On May 25, the police registered a case on the orders of the DSP.
[Story Translated By Lotika Singha]
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