Dalit women beaten up, clothes torn for protesting molestation; no arrest even after a week

The victim’s side says that the police was informed about the molestation but it was not included in the FIR.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

Jaipur – A case of caste violence and assault on women of a Dalit family in their house has come to light in Jaipur’s Phulera police station area when they protested against molestation. Even after more than a week has passed in the case, the police have not been able to arrest any accused, due to which there is anger among the people of the community. The incident took place on October 26 in village Dhindha, in which some people of a Gujjar family allegedly attacked women of the Bairwa community.

According to the FIR lodged by complainant Noratmal Bairwa (28), on October 26, when he had gone to Jaipur, at around 5 pm, his wife, sister-in-law, minor sister-in-law and mother were present at his house. Meanwhile, neighbours Mohan Lal Gurjar alias Monu, Ram Gurjar, his mother Kamala Devi, wife Sumitra Devi, Pinky and others barged into the house with sticks and weapons.

According to the FIR, the accused surrounded the women and used casteist slurs, tore off the women’s clothes and made them half naked. The complaint said that a minor was beaten up so much that she fainted while a woman’s mangalsutra was broken and Rs 5,000 was also snatched from the house. The victim women suffered serious injuries on their head, face, neck and other parts of the body. The accused also tried to forcibly drag them away.

The next day, on October 27, Ram Gurjar and Shyoji Ram Gurjar reached the maternal home of the victim family and threatened that if any legal action was taken, they would “get them killed”. The accused said that “they will do the same thing to the Dhad Chamaar Bairavas” and will not spare even the women.

People from the Dalit community have raised serious questions on the police action. Jitendra Bairwa, a local Dalit rights activist, told The Muknayak that the matter actually arose from a protest against molestation. The women were returning from a temple near their home when the men from the accused party passed some lewd comments and lewd remarks at them. His sister-in-law was courageous and hence did not ignore the comments but gave a befitting reply, which angered the unruly men. Jitendra said, “They got angry after hearing such things from a Dalit girl, which led to a fight. Even after a week of the case, no arrest has been made. The police is deliberately delaying action. Jitendra Bairwa said that the accused party is now holding a panchayat by gathering Panch Patels in the village, Noratmal Bairwa and his family are being pressurized to withdraw the FIR.

Norat Bairwa told The Mooknayak that the accused party is his neighbor but before this there was no dispute or quarrel between the two families about anything. This beating and caste violence was done only when his sister-in-law protested against molestation. Norat also told that the police was told about the molestation but it was not included in the FIR.

He told that the victim’s family is still in panic. Both the women have gone to their parental home out of fear. The minor has been brought home after treatment at SMS Hospital, but her condition is not good due to internal injuries.

The police have registered a case under Section 189(2) of the IPC in this case. A case has been registered under sections 115(2), 126(2), 74, 333, 352, 351(2), 303(2) as well as sections 3(1)(S), 3(1)(W)(1) and 3(2)(VA) of the SC/ST Act. The case is being investigated by Sambhar Circle Officer Anupam Mishra. When the investigating officer was contacted to know the police’s side in the case, he said that he was busy and would talk later.

Courtesy: Hindi News