Saalwan (Karnal), March 1
In an alleged attempt to take revenge of the murder of an upper caste landlord certain persons today ransacked and damaged 16 houses of Dalits and burnt household items of three families in the Harijan basti at Saalwan village, 45 km from here this afternoon.
There was an atmosphere of tension among Dalits in the village but no injury was reported. The district administration deployed police force in the village to avoid conflict between the two communities.
The police registered an FIR against unidentified persons and claimed to have “spotted” certain members of the unruly crowd.
The victims said a mob of over 40-50 persons, mainly teenagers had gheraoed the Dalit basti at 1.45 p.m. today.
The mob was threatening Dalit members of the village for murdering Mahipal who was found murdered in fields on Tuesday.
Mahipal’s body was recovered from the fields and the police had arrested two persons Pradeep and Leelu in this connection. Villagers said there was an atmosphere of tension since this morning after the arrest of the two Dalits who allegedly had committed the crime.
Mr Sibash Kaviraj, SP, said during investigations the two had confessed to committing the crime. He said the accused had a dispute with the deceased over grazing of cattle in the fields.
Following an altercation, the accused had attacked the landlord with sticks and killed him on the spot.
After the arrest of the accused, the miscreants attacked the Dalit families and ransacked their houses.
Santosh, a middle-aged woman, said all belongings of their houses were burnt to ashes. She along with other members of the family left their house after noticing the mob. She heard abuses being hurled against the Dalits by the mob and the entire family rushed in their neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, DC B.S. Malik, said the victims would be compensated by the administration.
