51 Dalit women attacked, none got justice, says panel

SANGRUR:The three-member committee of the Istri Jagriti Manch in its 20-day investigation claimed to have identified 51 Dalit women who allegedly faced physical attacks and resisted molestation attempts from landlords during their struggle for their share of reserved land from various village common land since 2014 in the district.

Leaders of the Istri Jagriti Manch address mediapersons in Sangrur on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 12

The three-member committee of the Istri Jagriti Manch in its 20-day investigation claimed to have identified 51 Dalit women who allegedly faced physical attacks and resisted molestation attempts from landlords during their struggle for their share of reserved land from various village common land since 2014 in the district.

The committee completed its investigation last evening and shared the report with the media today. It will discuss its future course of action with some other organisations and start protest for Dalit women’s justice.

“We met hundreds of Dalit women while conducting investigations and found 51 women, who were attacked by policemen and upper caste men while they were supporting their family members in agitation for land. The police always supported landlords and attacked Dalit women. Despite lodging written complaint, the police did not register case in this regard,” alleged Amandeep Kaur Deol, general secretary of the manch.

In the report, the committee has alleged that the police registered false cases against 116 Dalit women of various villages of the district, including Jhaloor, Balad, Kulara, Beena Heri and Bhado, without any fault.

The committee has given details of many Dalit women with names. It alleged that on June 11, 2016, Harbans Kaur was beaten up by upper caste men and her MLR confirmed 13 injuries on various body parts. Gurdev Kaur’s MLR also confirmed injuries. Both had injuries on their private parts. Parmjit Kaur of Balad Kalan village suffered injuries during 2014 clash in the village. Savitri of the same village was allegedly beaten up by four policemen.

“The police have always attacked Dalits during clashes rather than playing a neutral role. We will protest to get justice for all Dalit women,” said Charnjit Kaur, a member of the committee.

Sangrur SP (D) Sewa Singh Malhi said their special investigation team (SIT) was conducting detailed investigations in the matter.