Mirchpur victims demand facilities at Deen Dayal Puram in Hisar

The victims of the 2010 caste-based riots in Mirchpur village of the district have demanded basic minimum facilities in a newly carved colony near Hisar town for the rehabilitation of the Dalit families.

In July 2018, then Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had announced to set up a new locality, Deen Dayal Puram, near Dhandoor village adjoining Hisar town. Over 250 plots were to be carved out for the Scheduled Caste members of Mirchpur village who had been the victim of caste violence in 2010 at Gurmel Dhabi village.

A Zila Parishad member, in a press conference here today, claimed that there had been no progress on the development in the residential locality. Though the ministers of the state government claimed to have rehabilitated the victims, the colony lacked basic facilities. “There are about 15 pucca houses while more than 150 other families who shifted from the Mirchpur village have been living in kutcha and makeshift accommodation at their plots in this locality,” he said.

He said that the state government was recovering the cost of these plots in instalments with interest from the plot owners. He alleged that there was no permanent water supply and proper sewerage and drainage systems.

Additionally, no arrangements had been made for schools for the children living in the locality, nor were there anganwadis for pregnant women and children under the age of five.

A resident, Ramesh, while speaking to the mediapersons, said some ministers only made claims. “While the plots have been provided to us, we are awaiting the basic facilities,” he stated.

The caste violence occurred in Mirchpur village on April 21, 2010, after a fight between Dalit and upper caste youths over the barking of a dog in a Dalit basti. Over a dozen houses of Dalit families were torched, in which a 17-year-old polio-stricken girl and her father were charred to death. Later, many families migrated from the village and started living in a farmhouse in Hisar.

Deputy Commissioner Anish Yadav could not be contacted for comments.