20 Dalit families stopped from leaving Mirchpur

HISAR: About 20 Dalits families, who had started migrating from Mirchpur village last night after getting information of the withdrawal of paramilitary forces deployed for their security, returned home after the district administration assured security to them early today morning.

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, July 1

About 20 Dalits families, who had started migrating from Mirchpur village last night after getting information of the withdrawal of paramilitary forces deployed for their security, returned home after the district administration assured security to them early today morning.

The district administration swung into action soon after getting information about the departure of the Dalit families from Mirchpur. A team of Hisar Inspector General of Police (IGP) and administrative officials stopped the villagers at Kheri Chopta village, about 10 km from Mirchpur. The officials assured them that adequate security would be provided to them in the village, sources said.

“IGP Anil Kumar Rao also talked to them over phone. After having fully assured, the villagers decided to return to their homes,” a police official said. “Even if the CRPF is withdrawn from the village, adequate force of Haryana Armed police (HAP) would be stationed in the village,” he added.

Birbhan Kumar, a Dalit youth who was leading the families, confirmed that they had returned home after assurance from the district authorities. “We have returned home but we are concerned about our safety and security. If the Haryana Police ensure our safety, we have no problems living in our ancestral village”, he said.

A group of Jat youths had torched houses of Dalits in the village following a minor scuffle on April 21, 2010. A villager Tara Chand (70) and his physically-challenged teenage daughter were killed. Fearing a repeat of such an attack, the 120-odd Dalit families of the village had fled to Delhi.

In December 2010, some families returned to Mirchpur, but most made a Hisar farmhouse their home. The CRPF, which has been deployed in the village ever since, was scheduled to leave the village today. IGP Rao said a decision regarding CRPF’s deployment would be taken later today.