UP, MP, Rajasthan top in Dalit atrocities: Government report
A government report said that Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SC) in 2022. The report expressed concern that the conviction rate of the accused has decreased. In 2022, the conviction rate fell to 32.4 percent from 39.2 percent in 2020. Although incidents of atrocities on minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, have also increased in the last 10 years, no report related to these communities is available with the government. Now more cases of atrocities against minorities are being reported than Dalits.
According to the report, 97.7 percent of all cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes were registered in 13 states. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 12,287 cases or 23.78 per cent of the total, followed by Rajasthan with 8,651 cases (16.75 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh with 7,732 cases (14.97 per cent).
Other states included Bihar (13.16 per cent) with 6,799 cases, Odisha (6.93 per cent) with 3,576 cases, and Maharashtra (5.24 per cent) with 2,706 cases, the report said. Nearly 81 per cent of the total cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in 2022 were in these six states alone.
A total of 51,656 cases of atrocities against SCs were registered in 2022 under the Act. All these cases were also registered under the Indian Penal Code, the report said.
The report further pointed out that most cases of atrocities against STs were also concentrated in 13 states. Of the 9,735 cases involving STs, Madhya Pradesh registered 2,979 cases (30.61 per cent), Rajasthan 2,498 cases (25.66 per cent), and Odisha 773 cases (7.94 per cent).
Other states with significant number of cases involving Scheduled Tribes (STs) include Maharashtra (7.10 per cent) with 691 cases and Andhra Pradesh (5.13 per cent) with 499 cases. The report gave data on the basis of investigation and chargesheet. In cases involving SCs, chargesheets were filed in 60.38 per cent of cases, while 14.78 per cent ended with a final report due to false claims or lack of evidence. Investigations were still pending in 17,166 cases by the end of 2022.
Similarly in cases involving STs, chargesheets were filed in 63.32 per cent of cases, of which 14.71 per cent ended with a final report. By the end of 2022, 2,702 cases were still under investigation. The report has raised concerns that the conviction rate of the accused has declined. In 2022, the conviction rate fell to 32.4 per cent, from 39.2 per cent in 2020.
The report has also raised concerns about the inadequate number of special courts set up to deal with these cases. Only 194 of the 498 districts in 14 states had special courts set up for speedy trial of cases under the law. The report identified specific districts that are particularly prone to atrocities, but only 10 states and union territories declared such districts. In the rest, including Uttar Pradesh, where the highest number of cases related to Scheduled Castes were registered, no district was declared. The report calls for interventions in such districts by selecting them to prevent caste-based violence and ensure strong protection for vulnerable communities.
Courtesy : Hindi News