New Delhi- In a disturbing turn of events, the Delhi Police faced severe criticism for their alleged repressive actions at the dharna site of Dalit Professor Dr. Ritu Singh in the wee hours of Tuesday. The incident unfolded as the police reportedly ravaged the protest site, seizing belongings, tearing photograph of Baba Sahab Ambedkar, and allegedly detaining some protestors.
Dr. Ritu Singh, a Dalit teacher who had been on a 135-day dharna, took to social media to share her ordeal with the public. In a live video, she tearfully recounted the police actions, claiming that they not only seized personal belongings but also tore photograph of the iconic Dalit leader, Baba Sahab Ambedkar. Furthermore, she alleged that some protestors were taken away to an unknown location by the police. The incident took place on Monday night, when Ritu had gone to a professor's home nearby to freshen up. When she returned she saw the site was ransacked and their belongings had been taken away unlawfully.
In her emotional appeal on social media, Dr. Ritu Singh called upon her community to unite and show solidarity at the protest site in DU Arts Faculty. Highlighting the upcoming death anniversary of Rohit Vemula on January 17th, she expressed concern for the future of Dalit youths, emphasizing the need for collective action to prevent further tragedies.
Despite the alleged police brutality and the confiscation of their belongings, Dr. Ritu Singh affirmed her determination to resume the dharna. In her plea, she stated, "I am not weak; I don't know if I should do this, but I bow only before my community seeking support."
As the news of the repressive police actions spread, there is a growing demand for an impartial investigation into the incident, with many voices echoing concerns over the treatment of Dalit individuals and the need for justice in Dr. Ritu Singh's case. The incident raises questions about the role of law enforcement in safeguarding the right to protest and the broader issue of caste-based discrimination in academic institutions.
Dr. Ritu Singh, the Dalit teacher, faced discrimination and termination from her position as an Assistant Professor at Daulat Ram College, Delhi University, just a month after completing her PhD in Psychology. She alleges that her dismissal was based on caste discrimination by the college principal, Dr. Savita Roy. Despite the Ministry of Human Resource Development's guidelines against terminating contract-based teachers during the Covid period, Dr. Ritu Singh initiated a protest.
The case escalated to court, where the principal presented a letter signed by 35 students claiming dissatisfaction with Dr. Ritu Singh's teaching. However, investigations revealed that she had never taught those students. A charge sheet was filed against the principal under the SC/ST Act. Nevertheless, instead of facing consequences, Dr. Savita Roy was appointed as the General Secretary of the Principal's Association.
Dr. Ritu Singh has been tirelessly pursuing justice since 2020, facing challenges in filing an FIR and receiving no response from the university. Her court appearances have been repeatedly postponed, while the principal remains in her position. Dr. Ritu Singh is currently on strike, demanding the suspension of Principal Savita Roy. In her appeal to the community, she emphasizes the biased treatment against Dalits, denial of education rights, and the need for support to avoid a fate similar to Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi. She questions the university's blindness to discrimination and calls for solidarity to address the systemic bias against Dalits in education and society.
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