Tensions Erupt as Dalits Face Backlash Over Burial Ground Rights in Rajasthan Village

Rajsamand, Rajasthan – A serious incident of caste-based discrimination has emerged in the Bhim police station area of Rajsamand district, where a Salvi family from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community faced fierce opposition from upper-caste individuals during a funeral ceremony.

The incident occurred in Dev Doongri village of Kushalpura Gram Panchayat, where the family of the deceased, Ghisa Ram, was preparing to perform last rites on cremation land allocated by the village administration. Members of the local Rawat community allegedly attempted to stop the SC family from burying their deceased on this land, escalating tensions and leading to stone-pelting between the two groups. The intervention and strict measures taken by the police allowed the burial to proceed under official protection.

After Ghisa Ram passed away on October 31, his son, Ganga Ram, along with members of their community, began preparations for the funeral on the government-allocated cremation land (Khasra No. 15575/2768). Speaking to The Mooknayak , Ganga Ram explained that a JCB machine was being used to dig a grave. At that time, around 50 to 100 individuals from the Rawat community, including women, arrived and began throwing stones aggressively, breaking the windshield of the JCB and assaulting its driver. Additionally, caste-based slurs were hurled at members of the Salvi community participating in the ceremony.

During the incident, the accused allegedly threatened the Salvi community members, declaring, "People of a lower caste like you cannot perform last rites on our land." The procession was disrupted, and members of the SC community were ordered to leave, deeply distressing those present.

Ganga Ram alleged that members of the Rawat community continue to bar them from accessing the cremation ground and have prohibited SC women from visiting MGNREGA work sites and the local fair-price shop. They have reportedly even restricted them from buying goods from any shop in the area.

A member of the Salvi community, who requested anonymity, told The Mooknayak that tensions had escalated significantly, prompting the Bhim police station in-charge and Deputy SP to arrive on the scene with a police force. It was only in the presence of the police and administrative officials that the funeral could finally proceed.

Following this incident, Ganga Ram lodged an FIR, accusing 22 named individuals and 50-100 unidentified people of caste-based abuse, threats, and assault. The FIR includes sections under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Sections 3(1)(R)(S) and 3(2)(V)(A). The Superintendent of Police has assigned the investigation to DYSP Paras Chaudhary.

Growing Impact of Caste Tensions

In Dev Doongri village, the allocation of cremation land for the Scheduled Caste community has become a major source of conflict. The Mooknayak spoke with Veeram Ram, a retired army personnel residing in the village, who explained that the upper castes oppose the SC community’s performance of last rites in their area.

Veeram Ram detailed that the tension between the two communities began three months ago when the administration allocated grazing land as a cremation ground for the Salvi community. Previously, the SC community lacked dedicated cremation land and would bury their deceased on privately-owned, unused land across the highway. However, this land often became unusable during the monsoon season, when it would flood. To address these difficulties, the Salvi community requested a dedicated cremation ground, leading to the recent allocation of grazing land for this purpose.

According to Veeram Ram, "Since the land was allocated, there was opposition from the Rawat community once before, but this time the issue escalated. The village has 20-25 homes of the Salvi community, while the Rawat community has a larger presence and, therefore, more influence. Tensions over the cremation land have intensified, to the point that even muster rolls for the MGNREGA work were separated based on caste. The primary school and ration shop are located in the Rawat area, and they tell us, ‘Come to our side and see for yourself.’” The Salvi community stated that while the police have registered a case over the burial incident, they are hopeful that local authorities will address the caste discrimination; if not, they plan to approach the district administration.

Dalit rights activist Bhanwar Meghwanshi expressed that this incident is yet another example of the deeply entrenched caste discrimination and social inequities in Rajasthan, where marginalized castes are still deprived of social and religious rights. According to Meghwanshi, activists in Bhim plan to submit a memorandum seeking administrative intervention in the matter.