Patiala: Harassment of Woman Sarpanch: Commission asks administration to submit action-taken report by tomorrow

Aman Sood

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 1

Following an alleged attack on an elected Dalit woman sarpanch wherein she was ‘publicly beaten up and her clothes torn’, the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) has sought an action taken report from the administration. The Commission, on the orders of its Chairman Vijay Sampla, asked the authorities concerned to submit an action taken report by September 3.

According to Sampla the NCSC received a shocking complaint from the woman sarpanch of Santnagar Maulviwala village in Patran town, who belongs to Schedule Caste, alleging that she was ‘physically harassed’ for carrying on developmental projects in the village.

“The incident dates back to May. The sarpanch could not get justice. Instead the Patran police pressurised her and she filed a complaint with us in July,” Sampla added.

According to Sampla the sarpanch alleged that she was publicly beaten up and her clothes were torn.

“This clearly indicates the plight of other SC women living in the rural Punjab. Taking strong notice over harassment, threats and discrimination against woman sarpanch, the commission has issued a notice to the Patiala district administration today and asked the authorities concerned to submit an action taken report till September 3,” said Sampla.

In the complaint received by the NCSC Sukhpal Kaur, sarpanch, Santnagar Maulviwala village, has alleged, “Some upper caste people deliberately tried to stop development projects in the village”.

Sukhpal, who belongs to Mazhabi Sikh community, was unanimously elected as sarpanch by village residents.

“However, when I tried to stop upper caste men from hampering development projects, I was brutally beaten up along with my family,” stated Sukhpal Kaur in her complaint.

“Not only this, the accused tore my clothes in front of village residents, verbally attacked and passed cast remarks against me. A police complaint was lodged against accused but culprits were not arrested,” Sukhpal Kaur told the commission in her complaint.

The Commission asked the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala, to investigate the matter and submit report within stipulated time through post or email, based on facts and information on the action taken on the allegation/matter.

Sampla further cautioned officers that if action taken report was not received within the stipulated time, then commission might exercise the powers of the civil court conferred on it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India and issue summons for personal appearance before the panel in Delhi.

Meanwhile Patiala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit said, “The police have already completed the probe in the matter and submitted the report.”

The Patiala SSP, Sandeep Garg, told The Tribune that they had sent the action taken report in the matter to the authorities concerned.