Dalits’ anger over stadium takes caste colour in Y’nagar

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Yamunanagar, May 3

Tension prevailed in the district’s Tigra village today after members of an upper-caste allegedly set on fire a store in which Dalits had stocked cow dung cakes and chaff (husk).

They allegedly tried to set afire Ravidass temple in the village and the house of Zila Parishad chairperson Reena Rani, who is a Dalit.

On a complaint of Fakir Chand, the police have booked 10 persons — Vijay Rana, Rambir, Ved, Aadesh, Mamchand, Shiv Kumar, Naveen, Kiranpal, Narinder and Rajpal — all from Tigra.

They have been booked under Sections 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of Rs 100 or in case of agricultural produce Rs 10), 227 (violation of condition of remission of punishment) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act.

Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar marked an inquiry into the incident to Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Joginder Sharma.

Sources said the fire broke out about 2 am today, but the residents got to know it much later. People informed others and the police.

A horse cart of Ram Kishan, an auto-rickshaw of Satish Kumar and a car of Sandeep Kumar were set afire, Chand alleged.

Four fire tenders were pressed into service and it took three-and-a-half hours to douse the flames.

The complainant alleged members of an upper-caste set on fire the store of Dalits following a dispute over the construction of a stadium in the village.

The Dalits have been sitting on an indefinite dharna outside the new grain market, Jagadhri, since April 29. They have been opposing the stadium’s construction, alleging that, once built, the stadium would become a source of nuisance for dwellers of the nearby Dalit locality.

The gram panchayat had begun the construction yesterday and it continued today as well. Deputy Commissioner (DC) SS Phulia said the situation was under control and the administration was making efforts to find a solution to the problem.

Ishwar Singh, member of the National Commission for SCs and STs, visited Yamunanagar yesterday and spoke to Dalits and members of an upper-caste, besides meeting officers of the administration.

He claimed the matter had been resolved. Dalits, however, refuted his claim and said they would not end the dharna if the stadium was constructed.